Volusia Matters Podcast

August 15 - Volusia’s Economic Development Q2 Breakfast focused on need for skilled trades i.e. electricians, plumbers, AC technicians, machinists, etc….Economic Development Director Lou Paris updated local 2nd quarter economic data…

JetBlue is returning to DBIA with 2 daily, non-stop routes to New York City (JFK) and Boston (BOS)…service begins Dec 4….tickets on sale now.

With JetBlue’s addition, DBIA is now served by 5 commercial carriers, offering 11 nonstop destinations and seamless one-stop connections to national and international destinations.

Cong Randy Fine was in town last week where he spoke to numerous entities and meetings throughout the County. Listen for Interview…..

August 20 - DB City Commission meeting….

August 18 - Deland City Commission held a workshop to review their impact fee rates and took up an ordinance in Commission meeting regarding stormwater utility rates.

Deltona City Commission has been evaluating options to challenge SB 180 and is seeking litigation partners (Weiss Serota law firm is leading a statewide coalition to challenge SB 180)….see Edgewater article below..

Edgewater City Council voted 3-2 to maintain City-wide Moratorium and Fla Shores Building Permit Moratorium in response to the passage of Senate Bill 180

August 19 - Ormond Beach City Commission

Pt Orange and NSB received FEMA Hurricane grants to demolish flood prone homes

There’s talk in Tallahassee of a study to eliminate property….here’s a list of local entities’ amount of property tax revenue which is applied to their general funds

City of DeLand hosted an open house regarding tiny home regulations where City Planners shared details about where and how tiny homes could be constructed in the City.

Sen Tom Wright presented checks to Volusia County EOC and Halifax Health’ IT

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

August 19 - County Council appointed Raymond Tyner as Growth/Resource Management Director (to succeed Clay Ervin who announced his retirement last month)

Council confirmed Gustavo Zambrano as Assistant County Manager

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

On opening day, School Bd and District staff hosted an event at Deland HS to reiterate their accomplishments so far this year…..

Daytona Regional Chamber names Kristin Weiss as their next President/CEO…she’ll become Incoming President on October 6 and work to the end of year with current President/CEO Nancy Keefer who will retire December 18

New home construction in Daytona Beach slowed down in the first 6 months of 2025….January to June, the City issued 447 new single-family homes permits….$137.1 million construction value.... a 23% decrease in permits vs same period in 2024

August 19 - County Council will vote to appoint Raymond Tyner as Growth/Resource Management Director (he will succeed Clay Ervin who announced his retirement last month).

Council will also vote to confirm Gustavo Zambrano as Assistant County Manager

Edgewater City Council took up Ordinance (1st reading) to request to repeal City-wide Moratorium and the Fla Shores Building Permit Moratorium in response to the passage of Senate Bill 180

New Smyrna Beach City Commission took up 1st reading of charter amendments to be voted upon Nov 4, 2025

DB CVB gives presentation on the status of local tourism at Starry Night Art gallery…Tourist district includes 200 properties with approx 12,000 rooms which collects 3-cent Tourist Development Tax (for Ocean Ctr bonds) and 3-cent Convention Development Tax which generates $15 m for tourism advertising

Gov DeSantis believes legislature should pursue mid-decade redistricting due to population shifts after 2020 Census…House Speaker Daniel Perez forms Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting to redraw maps

Gov Desantis names Sen Jay Collins at new Lieutenant Governor.

Trump Admin has imposed tariffs on nearly 100 countries thus increasing US import duties….new negotiated rates range 10 to 15% for Japan, the EU and UK that being agreements. US also imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil and India. Yale Unv’s budget lab says average tariff rate is now 18%...the highest since 1933

July inflation rate REMAINS 2.7% (same as June)

US Federal Reserve Bd in a wait and see mode (not sure if they’ll lower interest rates at September 17-18 meeting)

County Economic Development Q Breakfast…Friday, August 15, 7:30 – 9 AM….Daytona Intl Airport….Program is panel discussion on how 3 entrepreneurs turned their skilled trade careers into successful local businesses.. RSVP NOW!!!!

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.

US is adding about $1 trillion every 5 months during the 2020s—more than twice the 25-year average AND net interest payments on US’ NATIONAL CREDIT CARD debt now exceeds $1 trillion annually…..now one of the largest components of the federal budget—surpassing defense and Medicare.

Podcast News Topics

This past month, all local entities (cities, county school board) set their INITIAL budgets for FY 2025-26

County Economic Development Q Breakfast…Friday, August 15, 7:30 – 9 AM….Daytona Intl Airport….Program is panel discussion on how 3 entrepreneurs turned their skilled trade careers into successful local businesses

County Council selects 15 members (out of 41 applicants) for the 2026 Charter Review Commission. CRC’s first meeting to be Sept 3

County Council discusses proposed amendments to SB 180…a new legislation that preempts county/city land use powers after hurricanes…….applies statewide until October 1, 2027

DB City Commission agenda….

County Council approves FY 2025-26 Budgets for Halifax, SE Volusia and West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authorities

DB Shores City Commission updates procurement policy..set city manager’s procurement approval limit at $100,000.

Edgewater City Council took up Ordinance (1st reading) to request to repeal the City-wide Moratorium and the Florida Shores Building Permit Moratorium in response to the passage of Senate Bill 180

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.

Volusia’s GDP - December 2024 was $27.57 billion…ranking Volusia's economy14th out of Florida’s 67 counties based on 2024 data—making it one of the mid-to-‑large-economy counties in the state

No Change in Interest Rates…..Last week, the US Federal Reserve Bd voted to maintain the federal funds lending rate at 4.25 - 4.50%…..5th straight meeting with no change.  

Ernie Audino has a new radio show….The Frontlines Report. It’s the nation’s largest military talk show with over 150 radio stations coast to coast

Roy Young is the new Executive Director of Halifax Urban Ministries (HUM).

Approx 200 attendees at Meet & Greet for BCU’s new President Dr Albert Mosley….welcoming comments from Mayor Derrick Henry, Commissioner Paula Reed, Volusia AALC Chair Rufus Johnson, NAACP President Cynthia Slater, City Mgr Deric Feacher  

County Council approved several infrastructure/planning projects via Transform386 to reduce flood risk, modernize essential utilities, and advance recovery efforts in Daytona Beach, Orange City, Port Orange, NSB .…..

Daytona Beach PD seeking new recruits….must pass their Physical Abilities Test plus background check, polygraph exam, etc)...starting pay $19 an hour plus health care benefits

Deltona City Commission has workshop to update their current travel policy…proposed flat $4000?

NSB City Commission hosts workshop to consider 7 proposed City Charter amendments

School Board, County Council, Cities set their maximum TRIM property tax rate…all to host final Budget hearings in September..look for FY 2025-26 budget/tax rate chart in next week’s Volusia Matters newsletter

County Council approves FY 2025-26 Budgets for Halifax, SE Volusia and West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authorities

Several personnel shifts of our friends in Volusia

School District’s Half Cent Sales Tax Oversight Committee updates their capitol projects’ goals

DB Shores City Commission updates procurement policy..set city manager’s procurement approval limit at $100,000.

FY 2024 Volusia’s GDP was $27.5 billion….ranking us 14th out of Fla’s 67 counties

Fla Chamber’s Mid‑Year Business/Economic Report regarding the state's economic performance... Fla had estimated 1.4% growth in GDP (approx $1.76 trillion…adding 142 k jobs (a 1.4% increase) 3.7% unemployment rate

After Fla Supreme Court ruled with Gov Desantis to maintain his plan redrawing black-majority District 5 along I-10 into 3 other Congressional Districts….he’s now considering to call Special Session to redraw other Congressional districts

Come welcome BCU’s new President Dr Albert Mosley Wednesday, July 23, 5:30 – 7 PM Cherry Community Ctr 

Volusia to host Regional Surf Lifesaving Competition July 23-24 highlighting skills, endurance, and lifesaving expertise of Fla’s top lifeguards….takes place at Hard Rock Hotel…..

Gov DeSantis has appointed Sen Blaise Ingoglia as Fla's new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to replace Jimmy Patronis (recently elected to Congress). DeSantis may soon appoint new Lieutenant Governor..Sen Jay Collins?

Gov Desantis announced that Fla has No. 1 economy in the US for the third year in a row

Volusia Free Clinic/Volusia Volunteers in Medicine opens new location 1901 Mason Ave x Fentress Blvd Ste 110….provides primary/preventative healthcare to Volusia’s WORKING but UNINSURED residents based on income (under $45k individual or $61k couple annually).

VOTRAN resumes DeLand SunRail Circulator bus route Monday- Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm…4 stops along the route, connecting riders from downtown DeLand to SunRail’s train stop  

Deltona City Commission recently approved a 9-month building moratorium to allow city officials time to review development standards/building regulations and perhaps write new rules to prevent flooding…however, that appears to conflict with Fla’s NEW SB 180 recently signed into law by Gov DeSantis which prohibits local entities from adopting a building moratorium for 1 year after a storm

After 2 years on the job, PO/SD Chamber Exec Barbara Ann Heegan will be leaving July 30

Public Works crews throughout Volusia continue stormwater management maintenance to prepare for next big storm…

Local Entities in the process of setting their maximum TRIM property tax rates regarding their FY 2025-26 budget (look for VM’s budget tax rate/budget chart)

VCARD and Green Volusia will host Shaping Tomorrow's Spaces program on July 24, 8:30 - 10:30 AM Daytona Intl Airport with focus on implementing Volusia County's new voluntary low impact development stormwater practices

Volusia’s Schools’ Half-Cent Sales Tax Committee meets Thursday, July 24, 4 PM at School Facilities Bldg

Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission/SunRail Advisory Bd (Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia counties in city of Orlando), will meet Thursday, July 24, 1:30 PM LYNX Central Station Admin Bldg, Orlando

Deltona City Commission and Orange City Council are taking up ordinances outlining dos and don'ts of how individuals may solicit within their cities…..

Trump Admin heard employers’ concerns of mass deportations is raising labor costs and producing labor shortages in agricultural-based states that heavily rely on immigrant labor.  

SO……Fla Cong María Elvira Salazar has introduced Dignity Act of 2025….a bipartisan immigration reform bill that aims to overhaul the US immigration system by balancing border security with legal pathways for undocumented immigrants

Fla’s Supreme Court upheld the state's congressional redistricting map, rejecting a challenge to maintain former Black-majority District 5 stretching from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, encompassing Black communities in North Fla

$37 trillion national debt has tripled over 25 years…interest payments on ‘govt credit card’ now exceeds Medicare and defense spending, and is putting US’ creditworthiness increasingly at risk

Podcast News Topics

Podcast News Topics

FLASH….applications’ window for County Charter Review Commission extended to July 18…County Council to appoint members on August 5…go to volusia.org/chartercommission

Podcast News Topics

FLASH….applications’ window for County Charter Review Commission extended to July 18…County Council to appoint members on August 5…go to volusia.org/chartercommission

Podcast News Topics

FLASH - Ocean Center announces the return of NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship through 2030, extending a decades-long partnership with Varsity Spirit….

FLASH….applications’ window for County Charter Review Commission extended to July 18…County Council to appoint members on August 5…go to volusia.org/chartercommission

REMINDER….County Charter Review Commission applications available now on Volusia.org…due by June 30…County Council to appoint members on July 22