Orange City council reviews FY2025–26 budget, agrees to add two police officers and events coordinator as staff weighs millage increase

Devlin Moore, Finance Director for the City of Orange City, told the council at an Aug. 10 budget workshop the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget is balanced but relies on transfers from fund balance and a number of recurring and nonrecurring adjustments. The presentation framed choices for council about restoring previously cut items, funding new positions and whether to raise the millage rate ahead of September public hearings.

Moore said the draft budget assumes a current millage of 6.8691, includes a projected general fund balance of about $5.4 million (with a planned $147,000 transfer out leaving roughly $5.3 million), and balances recurring revenue and recurring expenditures with a modest recurring surplus (about $253,000 in his presentation). He told the council the budget currently relies on several one-time items in the current year that reduce other revenues, and noted FEMA, insurance proceeds and unspent current-year dollars could restore some of the post-Milton pulls to fund balance.

The budget presentation listed several post-publication additions staff recommended funding from the recurring variance rather than new cuts: reinstating a grant-writer position ($30,000), an increased attorney-services allocation (additional $64,000 to a $98,200 total), and a $4,200 increase for a fireworks event. Staff also asked the council whether to restore smaller items such as a $2,349 camera for the public information officer; council members responded in the affirmative when asked if they were “okay with that proposed change.”

Council and staff debated a fingerprinting machine for public use. Chief Miller explained the equipment could be offered to the public for a fee but staffing to operate it was the limiting factor. Council consensus was to defer purchasing the fingerprinting…