- September 14, 2026
The city of Ormond Beach will cut more than $400,000 from its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, based on direction by the City Commission during a workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The cuts, proposed by City Commissioner Kristin Deaton and Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland, will bolster the city's fund balance as Ormond Beach plans for potential budget impacts caused by Amendment 3. In November, voters will decide whether or not the state's homestead exemption should be increased, and if approved, local governments will see a significant reduction in property tax revenues.
A total of $442,000 in line items were cut from the budget Tuesday. These cuts will not impact the city's tentative operating millage rate of 4.3792 mills, or $4.3792 per $1,000 in taxable values.
"The overall budget doesn't change," City Finance Director Kelly McGuire said. "We're just moving some line items, but that gives us clarification about what our priorities are and are not for next year."
The City Commission opted to cut:
Deaton had suggested an additional $308,000 in budget cuts: $58,000 from the general fund for community events and $250,000 from the Capital Improvement Program fund for security upgrades at city-owned facilities. For the latter, Deaton suggested delaying the project to a future budget year.
However, the majority of commission expressed wanting to keep the line items in the budget.
Tolland said community events were a part of the quality of life the city provides for its residents. The budget cut would have impacted the city's Movies on the Halifax event, for example. Commissioners discussed having staff pursue sponsorships to offset the cost of the program. If successful, the budgeted dollars could be transferred to fund balance at a later date, and the city could plan to cut the funds from the next fiscal year's budget as well.
"If they do get a sponsor, great — we'll just keep that money in the pot," Tolland said.
On sport subsidies, city staff told commissioners that sports associations would continue to work with families to make sure children in need would still be able to participate in youth sports.
Commissioners were also not in favor of cutting the second phase of security upgrades. The $500K project includes hardening at each of the city's fire stations, Public Works and Fleet department buildings.
"Safety is paramount, and I don't think we should push off and say, 'Well, this fire station should receive safety, and the next one shouldn't,'" Commissioner Travis Sargent said. "I mean, God forbid something happens at the next one or at Public Works. Let's just do it."
The first public hearing for the tax rate and fiscal year 2027 budget is scheduled for Sept. 9.
