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Volusia County sets tentative TRIM rates; tight vote and later reconsideration set fire millage at flat rate
Summary
After a contentious debate over funding for fire services, the council approved most tentative property-tax rates and, after reconsideration, set the tentative fire services millage at the flat/unchanged rate instead of the rollback rate; council scheduled budget hearings for Sept. 4 and Sept. 16 at 5:01 p.m.
The Volusia County Council completed the statutory TRIM-rate process on July 22, approving tentative property-tax rates for most county funds and resolving a divided debate over the fire-services millage.
Council heard a detailed presentation from Chief Financial Officer Ryan Osofsky on the county’s proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget and the mechanics of TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices. Osofsky told the council the recommended budget maintains a flat millage for most funds but noted revenue pressures from lower state shared revenues and mandated cost increases.
Key decisions and votes: - The council approved tentative TRIM rates for nine county funds (those not including the fire fund) by a 6–0 vote. - Council considered a motion to set the tentative fire-services millage at the flat (unchanged) rate instead of the rollback rate. An early roll-call vote on that motion was a 3–3 tie and therefore failed. Several council members said they wanted to preserve options and funding to advance planned fire station replacements and staffing improvements; others said the rollback rate already funds the fire program as submitted and that the county should not raise the taxpayer burden. - After a brief sequence of procedural steps, the council voted again following a motion to reconsider and then voted to set the tentative fire-services millage at the flat/unchanged rate. The final vote on setting the fire fund to the flat rate carried 4–2.
Why it matters: Fire services account for major capital and staffing commitments, including station upgrades and relocations. Supporters of the flat millage said the extra funds give fire leadership flexibility for capital and staffing as building and equipment costs rise; opponents said the rollback rate funds the department’s current plans and expressed concern about tax burdens and a potential economic downturn.
Budget hearing schedule: The council set the tentative budget-hearing dates required by TRIM: Sept. 4 and Sept. 16, 2025, and adjusted the required start time to 5:01 p.m. so the hearings comply with statutory rules while accommodating council meeting limits.
Next steps: Staff will publish TRIM notices with the council’s tentative rates and return to the council for the statutory tentative- and final-budget hearings in September. The council can lower the proposed rates before final adoption but cannot increase them beyond the tentative rates filed with the property appraiser.
Ending: Council members who supported the flat fire millage said they wanted to preserve options for station construction and equipment; members favoring rollback argued the submitted fire capital plan is fundable at rollback and pushed for keeping taxes lower given economic uncertainty. The council’s final tentative decisions move the budget process into the public-notice period required by state law.
