Volusia County releases 5-year capital plan; officials propose debt for sheriff building and landfill cell

Volusia County staff presented a consolidated five-year capital projects plan and multi-fund financial forecasts during the June 2 council meeting, identifying major projects, funding gaps, and recommendations to protect general-fund reserves.

Ryan Osofsky, the county chief financial officer, told the council the capital plan compiles department requests and identifies a roughly $187 million slate of projects proposed for the coming fiscal year, plus a set of projects with funding “to be determined.” Among the largest unfunded projects are a proposed consolidated Daytona judicial complex (budget placeholder of about $255 million), the Ponce de Leon Inlet dredging needs, and park expansions. Osofsky also flagged a near-term need to fund the next solid-waste landfill cell—staff estimate the two-phase effort will require about $50 million in total to develop roadways, stormwater, and the first cell.

Faced with forecasted revenue pressures and a multi-year run of undedicated capital needs, staff recommended shifting the financing plan for at least two large, long-lived assets from pay-as-you-go to debt financing. Specifically, Osofsky said the county would recommend a $30 million debt issuance to fund the sheriff administration complex rather than the originally proposed $15 million in pay-go in fiscal 25–26. “That building will have a very long useful life, and the intergenerational equity theory of public finance argues some of the cost should be borne by future taxpayers,” Osofsky said. The shift would free $30 million in current-year reserves to preserve general-fund liquidity.

On solid waste, staff outlined a plan that includes a $38.7 million debt issuance to fund the landfill cell development; solid-waste staff told council the enterprise fund can support the debt service under projected fee and volume assumptions.

Other capital items of note discussed in the meeting: - Mosquito-control facility: Council previously approved design; staff are budgeting construction funds across the forecast and intend to pay debt service from the mosquito millage or continue pay-go depending on council direction. Mosquito control staff said the project is sited on county-leased airport property and will not require new land acquisition. - Corrections video and security: Project costs escalated; additional funding is needed to complete a comprehensive upgrade for the jail’s control, door and camera systems. - Court complex: The previously discussed consolidated court plan remains listed as unfunded ($255 million placeholder); staff signaled more study and options work is ongoing. - Council chamber audio/video: Staff proposed $300,000 to rebuild aging AV systems in chambers and the overflow room; councilmembers asked staff to accelerate procurement and installation. - Beach renourishment and dredging: Coastal staff described active sand placement operations tied to U.S. Army Corps and county efforts; county dredging and offload planning will continue through fall.

Osofsky said the forecasts incorporate a 7% annual growth assumption for taxable value in out years (staff noted the 2025 valuations reflect an about 8.1% countywide increase with 2.6% attributable to new construction). He also told the council that revenue headwinds — including possible state revenue-sharing reductions and falling investment yields — were reasons to preserve a larger reserve balance.

Ending: Councilmembers used the briefing to prioritize near-term capital decisions; staff said they will return budget documents with a recommended financing plan that includes the proposed debt for the sheriff building and landfill cell during the formal budget hearings this summer.