- January 26, 2026
Dear Editor:
I am writing in reference to recent reports of the donation of a building and property by the Volusia County School District to the DeLand Police Athletic League, a local nonprofit.
It is extremely disturbing to me that a school district that perpetually cries the blues about funding, or cuts programs or staff due to funding shortfalls, feels it can donate taxpayer-provided assets with no attempt to secure any type of recovery on behalf of taxpayers. When did it become the school district’s responsibility to decide for the taxpayers which nonprofits it would support and which it wouldn’t? Why are taxpayers in Edgewater or Ormond Beach contributing to a nonprofit in DeLand that will benefit almost exclusively DeLand residents. If the school board was so anxious to rid itself of this property, why wasn’t it offered to the City of DeLand at some fire-sale price and allow them to arrange PAL use?
And this is not the first time such a donation has been made by the school district. In 2024 the school district donated six lots to nonprofit Homes Bring Hope to build affordable housing for six school districts employees, according to a September 2025 press release. These lots were in Daytona Beach near Bethune-Cookman University and Daytona State. Would these lots not have been attractive to either university to purchase for future expansion, thereby recovering some taxpayer funds. The press release also begs the question “is our school district paying its employees so poorly that they require affordable housing?” I worked for Volusia County schools for 13 years; no one offered me or any of my colleagues affordable housing.
This point of this letter is not to question the validity or purpose of the nonprofits, but rather to bring to taxpayer’s attention the carelessness with which the school district, and by virtue of their votes on these donations the elected school board, are handling taxpayer assets. As taxpayers, we give the school district enormous amounts of money and the duty to respect our contributions and property. I can decide which nonprofits I prefer to donate to; I don’t need the school district and its board making those decisions for me. The school district should make every effort to recover tax dollars whenever possible before they cut a program, an employee or make a appeal for more money.
Doug Pettit
Ormond Beach
Editor's note: The Observer gave Volusia County Schools a chance to respond but the district declined to comment.
Dear Editor:
Conservative Citizens of Ormond Beach is pleased to announce their endorsement of Coleen McMahon for Ormond Beach City Commissioner in Zone 1. Coleen enters the race for Zone 1 as “one of us.” Her commitment to working as a team and to reduce spending, as well as her campaign’s theme of transparency for all Ormond Beach residents when it comes to their local government makes her a strong candidate. CCOB is proud to be in her corner!
Al Stewart, CCOB founder and Joseph Oakes, senior board member
Dear Editor:
For the past few years, we have had our neighbors' dogs running at us on our property barking loudly and at times jumping on us. Whether the dogs' intentions are aggressive or friendly is irrelevant to the fact that we are elderly senior citizens who can be easily knocked to the pavement, which could cause serious and even possibly fatal injuries as these are large and very strong animals.
A dog's desire to chase moving things is simply a display of predatory instinct. Many dogs will chase other animals, people, and cars. All of these can lead to dangerous and devastating outcomes. While you may not be able to stop your dog from trying to chase, you can take steps to prevent disaster. Keep your dog confined or on a leash at all times, train your dog to come when called or have some other system in place to keep your dog on your property. Our neighbors have had several years to do this and have not made the effort to do so and have put us at risk of a serious injury.
Charles Michael Sitero
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
Florida legislators have a heartfelt opportunity to listen genuinely to residents' concerns about housing affordability and to take meaningful steps to address these ongoing struggles. They are indeed listening.
By sincerely examining the full costs associated with homeownership and finding sensible ways to ease those burdens, the state can lead the way in making homeownership more accessible and affordable for families across Florida.
In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Florida became the “nation’s fastest-growing state for the first time since 1957.” Between 2010 and 2020, Florida welcomed more new residents than nearly any other state, highlighting its appeal and importance.
Yet, during this period, many families across the nation have faced rising housing costs and mounting expenses associated with property taxes.
Today, for many families, the dream of owning a home feels increasingly out of reach. Home prices have surged in many communities, and the total costs of ownership — covering property taxes, interest, and closing expenses — have grown significantly. These rising costs place additional financial strain on households, making it harder to keep up.
This hardship is not only felt by first-time homebuyers. Current homeowners also experience pressure, as increasing property taxes and insurance costs raise their monthly bills, and higher upfront costs complicate refinancing or managing changing financial situations.
Many hardworking families — those in our schools, hospitals, small businesses, and service industries — find that affordable housing remains a distant hope due to high closing costs and property taxes.
Florida’s economic health depends on its people. When those who build and sustain our communities cannot afford to live here, everyone suffers. Ensuring access to affordable housing is essential for vibrant, thriving communities, a strong workforce, and a prosperous future.
Addressing these issues will not be easy, but it requires compassionate, practical strategies to reduce unnecessary costs and remove barriers within the housing system. Together, we can work toward a future where every family has a safe, stable place to call home.
Julio David Sosa
Deltona
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