Orange City adopts $43 million budget; council highlights infrastructure and facility needs after state vetoes

Fran Darmes, the District 5 council member, told residents that the City of Orange City adopted a $43,000,000 budget and secured more than $6,600,000 in grants for stormwater, sewer and public safety improvements. "This year's highlights include over $1,300,000 for roads, sidewalks, and stormwater, nearly $1,000,000 for water and wastewater upgrades, and more than $1,300,000 for police and fire equipment," Darmes said.

Council members also reported routine government activity statistics: the city reviewed 252 agenda items, approved 45 resolutions and adopted 12 new ordinances during the fiscal year.

Mayor Kelli Marks described a recent round of legislative appropriation requests the city submitted to the state totaling just over $1,500,000—$750,000 for police facilities, $450,000 for a fire facility and $315,000 for a public works building—but said the requests that passed both the Florida House and Senate were subsequently vetoed by the governor. Marks said the need for these facilities remains urgent: Fire Station 68 still operates from a mobile home, the police department and emergency operations center have limited space and storm readiness, and a new public works facility is critical for maintaining roads and stormwater systems.

Officials framed the adopted budget and grant awards as investments in core services and community events, including parks programming and city-sponsored celebrations. The council said it intends to pursue funding and planning to address facility shortfalls, though specific next steps and timelines for replacement facilities were not specified in the address.