- December 4, 2025
Dear Editor:
Instead of trying to respond to the many comments regarding the budget of the City of Ormond Beach on social media, many from individuals who don’t even live in the city limits, I thought I would write a letter to the editor.
Over the past 35-plus years, I have been honored to serve on the Planning Board, the Development Review Board and have served as executive director of the Ormond Beach Chamber. I have observed firsthand the past mayors and commissioners take stands to keep our city and our ad valorem taxes the lowest in the county. I will not include the City of DeBary as the lowest as they contract out their fire and police, a significant portion of their budget, and that is not a fair comparison.
Our past commissions have worked hard to develop Ormond Beach as an amazing family community. They were the leaders in introducing competitive government, allowing private enterprises to bid on city services. They saved millions by replacing our city waste management, landscaping expenses and transferring much of those costs to private businesses that they contracted with. And then they worked hard to pass the savings on to the parks, sports programs and senior programs that made our community special.
Plus, the residents rallied by volunteers building the Magic Forest Rainbow Park and taxing themselves to create the Andy Romano Beachfront Park in partnership with the county. In addition, thanks to Mayor Costello and Mayor Hood, they raised money from the business community to sponsor the beatification medians along West Granada Boulevard. I know this firsthand as I collected the donations from the businesses as executive director of the Ormond Chamber. I also collected the donations from the North U.S. 1 Coalition businesses to beautify that corridor.
Our city ad valorem taxes have remained low for as long as I can remember, so when our current City Commission, city manager and staff confirm that we need to increase our ad valorem taxes slightly, many of us agree.
I just think that it is very unfortunate that most of the negative comments that I read on social media regarding our amazing city are either from newcomers who do not realize that we have the second lowest ad valorem taxes in the county, or they don’t even live in Ormond Beach and are playing politics to get their candidates elected, or re-elected.
Peggy Farmer
Ormond Beach
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