Volusia County CFO lays out five‑year forecast, flags stormwater and program pressures

Volusia County’s chief financial officer gave council members a detailed five‑year fiscal forecast on June 16, warning of key pressures even under a flat millage assumption.

Ryan Osowski told the council the forecast assumes no property‑tax reform; if voters approve homestead changes in November the county would have to revisit the plan. Highlights included a modest revenue gain from valuation increases, a projected decline in investment income tied to falling interest yields, and an unusually large ECHO grant cycle that produced roughly $13.9 million in requests. Osowski said the county is forecasting $14 million in ECHO awards this year and expects the pipeline to level off in later years.

Law enforcement finances will evolve, he said, as the Sheriff plans to leave the county’s health plan and to set up a self‑insured program — a change that requires one‑time startup reserves (about $4.4 million requested). The municipal service and stormwater funds both face structural pressures: the municipal services district relies on transfers that currently exceed property‑tax collections; the stormwater utility will be unable to fund capital projects in the late 2020s under current fees unless rates are revisited.

Osowski also proposed a $10 million set‑aside for courthouse design and noted corrections facility projects funded from reserves. He recommended council direction on any intended service‑level reductions prior to the July 21 recommended budget presentation and reminded members that the July 1 certified values will inform final millage decisions.

Councilmembers asked for follow‑ups on legacy CRA payments, ECHO grant pacing, and near‑term stormwater funding options. Staff will return with more details and potential options before budget hearings this summer.