Cops Corner

$70 million bond? New sales tax?

As the Volusia County Council begins to draft its five-year road program, questions about funding sources arise.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As critical road infrastructure needs increase in Volusia, and officials explore ways to fund them, several members of the County Council expressed interest in pursuing a $70 million bond during a workshop on Tuesday, June 1.

The workshop, centered on infrastructure, outlined future projects such as widening Hand Avenue to four lanes from Clyde Morris Boulevard to Nova Road, replacing the Main Street bridge and widening Taylor Road to four lanes from Forest Preserve Boulevard to Summer Trees Road. Of the 11 identified critical projects, the $6.2 million Hand Avenue widening project ranked third in priority, which was calculated using project cost, road capacity and volume.

Volusia County engineer Tadd Kasbeer told the council that the county plans to present future projects to the public for input to bring back a new five-year road program. If the council decides to pursue a bond to help fund these projects, he said they could get more “buying power” as the money could help leverage grant funds as well. That’s what Volusia did with a $65 million bond in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, and Kasbeer said the county was able to get over $85 million worth of funds for projects.

“Yes, you may have periods where the economy slows down but that actually works to a certain extent in your favor because you have money in the first place, now you’re buying power improves,” he said, adding that impact fee revenue could cover the bond’s burden on taxpayers.

Another option presented to the council was an infrastructure sales tax. A half-cent sales tax referendum failed in May 2019, and officials began discussions to revive it later that fall during meetings by the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials.

The county now estimates the sales tax would have brought in $19 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year if it had passed.

County Councilwoman Barb Girtman said her district voted for the sales tax, and that aside from a bond, they could also pursue other funding revenue streams. Councilman Ben Johnson quickly jumped in to state that, if the sales tax is brought back, it needs to be a citizen-led initiative.

“That was one of the biggest problems we had with that,” Johnson said.

Chair Jeff Brower pointed out that many people thought the sales tax revenues would benefit new development rather than fix the existing infrastructure issues. Wrong or right, that was the perception, he said.

“We have to find ways to make growth pay for itself instead of making all new growth paid for by the people that already live here,” Brower said. “Growth needs to be productive. It needs to add to the community, not drain.”

County Councilwoman Heather Post said that it was important to think about messaging. Telling the citizens they didn’t understand the sales tax is the wrong approach, she explained.

Girtman agreed, and said that clarity will be needed.

“I think it would really take advocacy from the public about what they want.”

Email jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com.

COUNTY PROMOTES TWO LEADERS

Andy Ethridge has been named Volusia County beach director, after 25 years of doing just about every job on the beach and holding just about every rank there is.

“You are exactly where you need to be,” said Councilwoman Billie Wheeler. “I have total support in you.”

Ethridge had been serving as interim director since former Director Ray Manchester transferred into the Corrections Division in January.

Also at the June 1 meeting, Brad Burbaugh was picked to lead the resource stewardship division, after approximately a year-and-a-half with the county. His new duties include oversight of the ECHO and Volusia Forever programs.

The decision to move management of the ECHO and Volusia Forever programs to the resource stewardship division comes as the county prepares to ramp up both programs now that voters have renewed them for another 20 years.

COPS CORNER

MAY 20

OBSTRUCTING THE ROAD

9:59 p.m. — Intersection of North U.S. 1 and Airport Road DUI. Police arrested a 39-year-old Palm Coast man who was driving a motorcycle while drunk. According to his arrest report, police were dispatched to a local gas station after a worker reported that the man was causing a disturbance and threatening employees. He left the gas station on his motorcycle, and was later found by police in the middle of the intersection, with his motorcycle “dumped” in the roadway. The officer spotted an unopened can of beer protruding from his pocket, and would later discover it had been stolen from the gas station. The man told the officerthat he would be “honest” and admitted to having two beers and a shot of liquor while at a bar.

The man failed all the field sobriety exercises. He was taken to jail.

MAY 22

NOT QUITE ESCORTED

2:40 a.m. — 600 block of Seabreeze Boulevard Disorderly conduct. A 24-yearold Ormond Beach man was arrested in Daytona Beach after he caused a disturbance, becoming physical with security while frequenting a local establishment.

The man did leave the establishment, but jumped a wall as he did so, engaging security again. A crowd gathered in the area and there was a struggle by police to detain him.

He was taken to jail.

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June

THURS. 10

Ribbon Cutting

4:00pm - 5:00pm Nauti Pets Ribbon Cutting 4:30pm 159 E Granada Blvd. Ormond Beach

WED. 16

Economic Prosperity Hour

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THURS. 17

Ribbon Cutting

4:00pm - 5:00pm Hair Goddess Ribbon Cutting 4:30pm 236 River Beach Dr. Ormond Beach

WED. 23

Startup Grind Ormond Beach

5:30pm-7:00pm Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center 399 N US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach Dillon Kalkhurst, Founder of The Center for Intergenerational Engagement $5 Online | $10 At Door Register at: startupgrind.com/ormondbeach