The Deltona City Commission voted unanimously to reallocate $318,000 in remaining Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES funding toward the acquisition of a transport ambulance.

City staff said the funding is the remainder of a CARES-era HUD CDBG allocation and cannot be returned to the federal government once the program closed. ‘‘Rather than send the money back, it could be used for certain key items for protecting against infectious disease spread,’’ a staff member explained, saying the interior cleaning and patient-care compartment of the proposed unit qualifies under HUD field-office guidance.

The commission heard questions about whether this purchase was the same unit previously denied by the county for transport certification. Commissioner Howington, who made the motion, clarified the ambulance being funded by the CDBG money is a separate replacement unit already on the city’s procurement list and not the county‑denied fourth transport unit. Staff said the full unit cost is about $450,000 and the CDBG funds would cover roughly $318,000 of that amount.

Commissioner Nobick noted that the county controls Certificates of Public Necessity and that the city can place additional units in service as rescue/response vehicles even if the county denies transport authority. City staff said the unit will be received within 30–60 days and added that, if HUD reopens program rules or requires return of funds after a deadline, the city would be required to refund the unused balance.

The motion to authorize the reallocation was moved by Commissioner Howington, seconded by Commissioner Nobick, and passed 7–0.

Clarifying details: the staff presentation named $318,000 as the remaining CDBG CARES amount and described an approximate unit cost of $450,000; staff said the unit was authorized as part of a prior replacement plan and is not the unit that was denied county transport approval.

What’s next: staff will proceed with the purchase and procurement steps as authorized by the resolution.