Deltona budget includes 5% general pay increase, $15 starting wage and insurance review

John McKinney, finance director, told the commission that general employees (all staff except fire personnel) are budgeted for a 5 percent pay increase in the FY2025–26 plan. "General employees... is budgeted at 5% for next fiscal year," McKinney said.

McKinney told commissioners the $15 minimum starting wage referenced in the discussion stems from a prior statewide referendum and is set to take effect by Oct. 1, 2026; the city said it has already exceeded that $15 hourly starting rate for many roles. "By October first of 2026, it was at a minimum of $15 an hour," McKinney said when explaining the origin and timeline of the state increase.

On benefits, McKinney said the budget currently holds health insurance costs flat while staff pursue quotes through a broker and expect a notable reduction if the plan is placed on the open market. "Based on what we're going to be meeting on tomorrow, we're looking at a pretty hefty reduction in our health insurance by putting it out to market," he said. Property and casualty insurance was assumed to rise about 10 percent in the draft.

Several commissioners raised questions about equity and resident impacts. Commissioner Houghington (Howington) said he was concerned about giving another across‑the‑board increase after last year’s 10 percent raise and urged more targeted adjustments for market‑displaced positions. Commissioner Villavasquez pressed that staff keep employee coverage levels from deteriorating while pursuing cost reductions. McKinney said staff have an evaluation committee with field employees and human resources staff participating in the insurance review to preserve benefits while reducing cost.