- December 4, 2025
The Volusia County Council has unanimously adopted a $1.4 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2025-2026.
Following the second budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the council voted to keep the county's general fund tax rate flat at 3.2007 mills, while going to rollback on five other taxing funds: the Library, Ponce De Leon Inlet & Port District, Silver Sands Bethune Beach Municipal Service District, East Volusia Mosquito Control and Fire Services funds.
In addition to the tax rate for the general fund, four other funds — Law Enforcement, Municipal Service District, Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever — were unchanged as well.
Officials toyed with the idea of going to rollback or reducing the millage rate in the general fund, but going to rollback would mean $10 million in cuts.
"You really got to think about what you want and don't want," Councilman Jake Johansson said. "Is it less taxes or quality of life that's at the service level that you're getting now, or better?"
Councilman David Santiago said he had been hopeful that some of the constitutional officers would help the county with budget cuts. Only County Clerk Laura Roth and Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis attended the budget hearing.
"I'm sad to say that the other ones didn't come to the table with any additional help for us to lower your millage," Santiago said.
Included in the next fiscal year's budget is $10 million in increases for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. At the last budget hearing, Santiago raised concerns about the Volusia County property appraiser's budget, which included a $1.5 million building renovation, employee bonuses and health care for employees and their families.
At Tuesday's meeting, the council approved a written request to the state's Administration Commission for a review of the property appraiser's budget.
Santiago said he asked staff to see if the county had legal authority to change how the notices for property taxes, known as Truth in Millage or TRIM notices, are structured. He wanted the county to spell out the budgets for each constitutional officers, including previous, current and proposed budgets.
The county, however, doesn't have legal authority to do that.
"Which is sad, because I think clarity on the TRIM notice would be very, very good," Santiago said. "So we can't do that based on state law, but I think at a minimum, some of my colleagues also mentioned at the last meeting that maybe we should send a notice to taxpayers, explaining in greater detail what the changes are this year versus last year, and where that money went and exactly detailing what we did also as an elected body."
According to county staff, the county is also facing $4.1 million more in external expenses due to increases for the Department of Juvenile Justice, state Medicaid contributions, SunRail and Community Redevelopment Area payments. County departments submitted a net decrease of $1.6 million in budget requests, despite $4.2 million in increases for 4% wage increases, health insurance costs and retirement system increases.
Among the ideas considered by the council for possible tax savings included doing away with a recent initiative to set aside $5 million for roads, a suggestion made by Santiago.
But the council largely thought the county should continue to set those funds aside.
"You've got to have safe streets," Councilman Troy Kent said. "You've got to have police protection. You have to have drivable streets. You have to provide water and wastewater. These are core responsibilities of government."
Santiago also suggested going to rollback on both the Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever funds.
"Those program are running well," he said. "There's no need for additional monies right now. I know they do great work, but people need tax relief, and I'm going to give it to them wherever I can."
Councilman Don Dempsey said he originally felt the same way, but had a change of heart after talking with county staff.
County Community Services Director Brad Burbaugh said the county has several Volusia Forever land purchases on the horizon, which he said will deplete the fund's reserves. As for ECHO, the program is doing well, but it's also helping the general fund through the direct county expenditure program.
"That was really what the plan was for initially, is to see how we could look at ECHO and supplement projects in the general fund," Burbaugh said.
Johansson said that both ECHO and Volusia Forever were renewed via a voter referendum.
"We have to understand, or take our best guess based on input, what our public wants," he said.
This year, Burbaugh said the county spent $27 million buying Volusia Forever properties. Of that cost, $5.3 million came from local dollars and $21.7 million were state and federal dollars.
