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DeBary council reviews FY 2025-26 budget; staff recommends keeping proposed millage at 3.65 mills
Summary
City staff reviewed the FY2025-26 budget proposal, highlighting proposed 3% salary increases, higher public safety contract costs, a $200,000 deposit for a fire truck with a long lead time, and capital needs including Alexander Island and asset replacements; council members expressed support for the 3.65 millage rate proposed in July.
City Manager Carmen and finance staff presented the City of DeBarys fiscal year 2025-26 budget for council discussion on Aug. 20, urging the council to maintain a previously proposed tentative millage rate of 3.65 mills.
Staff said the council received the proposed budget on July 11 and adopted a proposed millage of 3.65 on July 16. The city manager told council that staff adjusted revenue forecasts because commercial development has been slower than expected and noted the city is still awaiting updated state revenue numbers. Key budget highlights and pressures discussed included:
- Personnel: a proposed 3% across-the-board salary increase; associated benefits costs were presented. The city manager noted a prior salary increase in March 2025 and a reorganization that renamed the city manager department to the executive department.
- Public safety: the Volusia County Sheriff contract was projected to increase by about $350,000 (an 8.1% increase to roughly $4.6 million). The city also faced higher-than-expected fire service costs; staff reported the earlier $300,000 estimate should be increased by an additional $118,000.
- Long-lead equipment: staff recommended placing a $200,000 deposit now for a fire truck with a quoted delivery lead time of about 31 months. The city manager proposed funding the deposit from general fund reserves and spreading the remaining payments across the next two fiscal years rather than borrowing.
- Capital and operations: Alexander Island park opening was pushed to September (staff said two employees were tentatively scheduled to start March 2026 but that date may shift). Road resurfacing was proposed at $800,000 but presented as a flexible account staff could reduce if other unexpected costs require it. The Gateway facility has aging HVAC units; staff reported one unit had failed and replacements may be required over the next year. Public works vehicle and equipment replacements (mower, skid steer, truck) were also on the capital list.
- Grants and special projects: staff said the city applied with the county for an $8.6 million HUD grant for the West High Banks project and that ARPA funds were largely committed, including to Alexander Island acquisition.
Council members asked questions and commented: several members supported placing the fire-truck deposit and spreading the balance across subsequent budgets to avoid borrowing; members expressed reluctance to cut essential services, emphasized the importance of road resurfacing and public safety, and praised staffs fiscal conservatism. One councilmember requested a future discussion about consolidating the city's stormwater fee into a single flat rate. No public participants spoke during the budget item.
Staff recommended keeping the advertised tentative millage at 3.65 mills pending final revenue confirmations; council members present indicated they did not see options to reduce the rate significantly given essential service cost increases.
