Volusia Matters Podcast

Cities are working to address stormwater management/flood control

DB City Commission meets October 15..agenda includes…..

33rd Annual Daytona Beach Biketoberfest happens this weekend… October 16–19

New Volusia Supervisor of Elections office is moving to 1588 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand. Ribbon cutting will be Oct 21, 3:00 PM

FDOT’s District 5 Office will hold public hearing Oct 20 to 24 ….to present the Tentative Five-Year Work Program for FYs 2026/2027 through 2030/2031

Volusia County is offering residents a convenient way to dispose of household hazardous waste with two free collection events

Daytona Regional Chamber’s Candidate Bootcamp will be Tuesday, Oct 28, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Chamber Bldg on City Island

Federal government shutdown which began October 1 appears ongoing with no resolution in sight and could impact business community

INTERVIEW - Daytona Beach CVB’s Lori Campbell Baker discusses tourist count during the Summer season and what we can expect in the months ahead

Volusia Legislative Delegation meets Wednesday, Oct 29, 9 AM—1 PM Deland City Hall (Click link below for Delegation Speakers Form)

Podcast News Topics

Local entities have finalized their FY 2025-26 budgets…FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter

Volusia Innovation Hub, 601 Innovation Way (next to Daytona Intl Airport) held its grand REopening on Sept 15 to mark the facility's management transition and expanded mission from UCF to Volusia's Economic Development Division

DB City Commission approved an ordinance to increase impact fees for residential/commercial construction projects. New fees will be applied to police, fire, transportation and general government.

Deland City Commission increased their impact fees an average of 40% on residential/commercial, office, industrial, assisted living facilities….to supplement city’s cost of Police, Fire, General Govt, Parks/Recreation

Sept 11 - DeLand’s Planning Bd approved an ordinance to allow tiny home communities with 3 or more units, between 200-600 sq ft each

County Chair Jeff Brower will host a town hall mtg Wednesday, Sept 24, 5:30 PM Port Orange Library to get residents’ input on flooding concerns affecting their neighborhoods

Six Volusia County School District employees have new homes due to Homes Bring Hope, community and business partners

NSB City Commission ratified collective agreements with Police Officers and Fire Fighters….approved resolutions for Charter amendments to go on November 2025 ballot….approved applicants for Police, Fire Pension Bds and Planning Bd

Federal Government’s fiscal year ends Sept 30…Congress must pass either complete appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR)…a temporary fix……to keep federal government funded…Trump cancelled meeting with Democrats Sen Chuck Schumer and House Minority Ldr Hakeem Jeffries..US House got back in Washington Sept 23…Senate returns Sept 29

INTERVIEW - Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director Cyrus Callum discusses REopening of Volusia Business Innovation Hub…DBIA passenger traffic….collaboration with Team Volusia and CEO Business Alliance

NOTE - Sept 30….Fla’s minimum wage increase $13 to $14. Tipped employees’ cash wage will increase to $10.98. Per the 2020 constitutional amendment will go to $15 on Sept. 30, 2026…with $11.98 for tipped workers

Podcast News Topics

Local entities are in final stages of setting their FY 2025-26 budgets…hearings conclude next week…..click the VM newsletter included in today’s email….

FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter

County Council approved the distribution of $8.3 million in Medicaid cost share funds for hospital districts.

Deltona has published District 6 Vacancy Applications (Comm Nick Lulli resigned)….interested persons must submit a resume or letter by Sept 18. Commissioner will then select a new commissioner

Deland City Commission modified/increased their fire/EMS impact fees for residential and commercial structures

Boeing announced new 65,000 sq ft engineering center at ERAU’s Research Park (part of the Cici & Hyatt Brown Ctr for Aerospace Technology) to work with the Dept of Defense to create advanced fighter jets

Tallahassee - House Speaker Daniel Perez names new 11-member Select Committee to redraw Fla's congressional map

Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates by .25%…..first interest rate cut this year….lowers benchmark federal funds rate from 4.25%–4.50% TO 4.00%–4.25%

Purchasing Managers' MANUFACTURING Index (PMI) remains below 50 signaling a reduction in manufacturing, due to production declines and tariff-related pressures…..Purchasing Managers' SERVICES Index rose… thus sustaining US economy's 64-month expansion, despite trade uncertainties and inflation concerns….in other words, a mixed US economic outlook

Local career changes and events….

INTERVIEW - State Attorney RJ Larizza explains basics of Fla’s potential open-carry gun law….

Sept 8 - Elected Officials Roundtable….School Supt Carmen Balgobin the District’s current A rating designated by the FDOE…..Also….County Councilman Jake Johannson (Co-Chair of the Volusia Stormwater Management/Flood Control Committee) reported on their progress                

Deltona City Commissioner Nick Lulli resigned resigned from office……the remainder of Lulli’s term exceeds two years….Deltona City Charter requires remaining Commissioners appoint a replacement within 30 days. The seat is currently vacant and the Commission was supposed to address it at their Sept 8 meeting….but there was no quorum to address the District 6 issue

Gov DeSantis re-appointed Maryam Ghyabi-White to St Johns River Water Mgnt District….her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Fla Senate

Volusia Legislative delegation meets Oct 29 to hear from local entities for upcoming session….

First Step Shelter Bd increased their budget from $1.75 to $1.87 million

Investiture for new Volusia County Court Judge Michelle Simonsen  

Sept 5 - Team Volusia Bd meeting….CEO Keith Norden spoke of business prospects….

Volusia School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) set 2 meetings to negotiate employee contracts

Local entities are in the middle of their FY 2025-26 budget hearings….click the VM newsletter to see upcoming hearing dates

Estimated tax year 2025 3rd quarterly federal income tax payments are due September 15

Local entities’ public hearings began this week regarding FY 2025-26 budgets. This month is when Volusia’s 16 cities, county and school board set their final budgets and tax rates before the new fiscal year begins October 1.                  

County’s 2026 Charter Review Commission held organizational meeting on Sept 3…to begin their (10 year) review the Charter (County’s Const) and recommend amendments which go to the Nov 2026 ballot. Elected Mark Watts as Chair…Pat Northey as Vice Chair. Set meeting schedule.

September 3 - DB City Commission…

Volusia School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) set 3 meetings to negotiate employee contracts

Dale Arrington has retired as City Manager of Orange City

Central Fla Commuter Rail Commission Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meets Wednesday, September 10.

Important meetings and events for your schedule……

…..Volusia Legislative delegation meets Oct 29

With new tariffs being imposed….a status update of our international trade partners

Congress has until September 30 to fund most of government or risk a shutdown

Former Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette is new President/CEO of Port Orange/South Daytona Chamber

DB Shores City Manager Kurt Swartzlander resigns….Police Chief Mike Fowler appointed at Interim Manager

August 20 - DB City Commission…

Volusia Forever Advisory Committee meets Friday, August 29 County Admin Bldg, DeLand

August 26 - NSB City Commission…

Volusia-Flagler TPO approved their 2029/30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and supported the Expedited Completion of Improvements to the I-4 St. Johns River Bridge project

School Board appointed 3 new members to FUTURES Foundation Board of Directors….also approved Supt Carmen Balgobin’s evaluation

Average 1..2..3 BR apartment rents in Volusia (August)

VISIT FLORIDA President/CEO Bryan Griffin announced that Fla welcomed 34.4 million visitors in 2nd quarter of 2025..  

Next Federal Reserve Bd meeting is scheduled for Sept 16–17... Recently, Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated he MAY BE open to a rate cut

President Trump fires Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook due to “mortgage discrepancies”….it'll probably be played out in court overtime 

US House and Senate are in recess until September 1...upon return they’ll address…

Sheriff Mike Chitwood discusses their use AI in addressing crime….warns of financial fraud scams, hard core drugs

Sept 19…Volusia County Council will host Votran 50th Anniversary Celebration

OTHER NEWS…..not included on podcast

All local entities (cities, county school board) set their INITIAL budgets/tax rates for FY 2025-26…still contemplating figures… 2 public budget hearings in September (Click August Newsletter below)

Elected Officials Roundtable meets Monday, September 9, 9 - 11 AM…Daytona Intl Airport…..Mayors/Vice Mayors, City Managers and County reps to address topics of mutuel concern throughout Volusia