Council directs staff to map core services and hold recurring workshops to prepare for potential revenue shifts

At the goals workshop, councilmembers agreed to a structured effort to identify the county’s core services and to run recurring, focused budget workshops ahead of the fiscal cycle. Members directed staff to prepare a menu of services, classify what is mandatory under state or federal law versus optional local programs, and return with figures and a recommended timeline to allow decisions to be incorporated in next year’s budget.

Several councilmembers urged regular, shorter sessions rather than a single extensive review. One member asked staff to provide the mandatory/optional breakdown and spending numbers "no later than March" so the council could give guidance in time for budget preparation. Staff said the approach would focus on the “all remaining services” bucket where discretionary programs are concentrated and noted that mandated areas will generally require less attention.

Council also asked staff to prepare a concise narrative about Volusia County’s recent fiscal reforms and send it to the county’s state delegation to request fair treatment or carve-outs. Members stressed phased approaches to change, use of attrition where possible and clear timelines so the county would not have to make abrupt, last‑minute cuts during the budget cycle.

What’s next: staff will produce a menu of service-level options, schedule the agreed recurring workshops (monthly or twice‑monthly as capacity allows), and return with a March deliverable that identifies mandatory services, discretionary programs and estimated savings windows.