Volusia Matters Podcast

EP 133 Diezel Depew

EP 132 John Nicholson

Volusia Legislative delegation met today…..Oct 29, where Sens Tom Wright, Tom Leek and Reps Chase Tremont, Webster Barnaby, Bill Partington and Richard Gentry heard
from local govt entities, community agencies, organizations
and individuals on what they'd like to see accomplished in the upcoming legislative session which meets in Tallahassee, January 13 to March 13, 2026
Oct 21 - County Council approved 5 flood-mitigation projects designed to increase stormwater management capacity, protect vulnerable areas and support long-term resilience across the County. They reflect coordinated efforts between the county/cities under Transform386
Deltona City Commission voted to withdraw from lawsuit challenging SB 180…a reversal from their August decision to join the lawsuit. SB180 is new legislation that temporarily confines small local entities impacted by hurricanes—from enacting stricter development regulations until October, 2027.
It also nullified building moratoriums.
Fla Dept of Environmental Protection (FDEP) awarded $94,500 in grant funding to City of Holly Hill to implement their Regional Drainage/Estuary Program to address increased flood risks affecting LPGA Canal
Gov DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes entirely for homesteaded properties while a special House committee is proposing 8 separate bills offering different forms of tax relief via constitutional amendments on the 2026 ballot
Volusia Forever Advisory Committee met Oct 24 and evaluated 2025 Cycle 5 properties for Volusia Forever criteria. The committee also ranked Cycle 3 and 4 applications
School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) met October 29, for a bargaining session regarding Instructional Staff for 2025. at Facilities Services Building.. 3750 Olson Dr, Daytona Beach
Volusia Schools’ Technical Coordinating Committee for School Facility Planning meets Oct 31 to exchange ideas between cities, school district, and county regarding student enrollment, development projects, and future projections for growth.
Volusia recently lost 4 fine individuals…. Dave Castagnacci, Lowell Lohman, Sandy Bishop Burke, Dick Kane.
Volusia County Schools announced 70 nominees for Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced on Jan 10 at the FUTURES TOTY banquet at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort
October 20 – as a means to expand affordable housing options, DeLand City Commission approved an ordinance allowing tiny homes to be built in designated areas of the city.
DB Shores City Mgr Kirk Swartzlander recently retired…Public Safety Director Mike Folwer is now Interim City Manager…SO Mark Swanson (formerly County Public Safety Chief) is now Acting Public Safety Director at DB Shores Dept of Public Safety
Sheriff Chitwood reported school threat arrests are down 45% from this time last year
Gov DeSantis and Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky announced improved conditions for homeowners and auto policy holders in Fla’s insurance market
Zane Ertel, former Regional Director with former State CFO Jimmy Patronis and current CFO Blaise Ingoglia, is now Development Liaison for City of Claremont in Lake County.
(FDOT) will host an open house regarding proposed improvements to Nova Rd from Flomich St to US 1 in Holly Hill/Ormond Beach…Wednesday, Nov 5, 5:30 to 7 PM
The Federal Government shutdown is in its 4th week (and counting)….no clear end-in-sight.
An estimated 750 federal employees in Volusia are either furloughed (not working) or working without pay….with a lot of talk about food assistance and early education programs (e.g., Head Start) running out of funds if the shutdown continues.
Latest CPI report showed prices rose at a slower pace than expected in Sept. Inflation increased 3% in 12 months through Sept vs 2.9% the previous month. Economists expected a 3.1% increase.
US Federal Reserve Board is met today…. Financial Markets are confident that the Board (via the will cut interest rates by 25 basis points) moving the benchmark fed funds rate to 3.75% to 4.0 %.
National debt is NOW $38 trillion. US spent $4 trillion on interest over the last decade but will spend $14 trillion in the next 10 years. Interest costs crowd out important public/private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American
INTERVIEW - John Nicholson…..Local Govt Observer/Commentator
Volusia Economic Development “Q” Breakfast will be Friday, Nov 21, 7:30 am Daytona Intl Airport with a panel discussion on “Make It Here. Positioning Volusia to Attract Industry.” Click the button to RSVP…..

EP 131 Lori Campbell-Baker - Daytona Beach CVB

Cities are working to address stormwater management/flood control
DB City Commission meets October 15..agenda includes…..
City auditor is establishing a fraud waste/abuse hotline, whereby city employees and general public can anonymously report potential fraud waste and abuse
City is taking action to allow current city advisory board members who might lose their status on a board due to commissioner boundary changes to continue serving the remainder of their term
Commission is taking up ordinances to revise outside detail rates to hire police and fire dept staff for city sponsored events and special outside detail rates for police to work bars, lounges in the city.
Commission is taking up another ordinance regarding police and firefighters retirement system.
33rd Annual Daytona Beach Biketoberfest happens this weekend… October 16–19
New Volusia Supervisor of Elections office is moving to 1588 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand. Ribbon cutting will be Oct 21, 3:00 PM
FDOT’s District 5 Office will hold public hearing Oct 20 to 24 ….to present the Tentative Five-Year Work Program for FYs 2026/2027 through 2030/2031
Volusia County is offering residents a convenient way to dispose of household hazardous waste with two free collection events
Daytona Regional Chamber’s Candidate Bootcamp will be Tuesday, Oct 28, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Chamber Bldg on City Island
Federal government shutdown which began October 1 appears ongoing with no resolution in sight and could impact business community
INTERVIEW - Daytona Beach CVB’s Lori Campbell Baker discusses tourist count during the Summer season and what we can expect in the months ahead
Volusia Legislative Delegation meets Wednesday, Oct 29, 9 AM—1 PM Deland City Hall (Click link below for Delegation Speakers Form)

Courtney Edgcomb

Volusia Matters Newsletter/Interview Cyrus Callum, Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director

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Volusia Matters Newsletter/Interview Cyrus Callum, Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director

Volusia Matters Newsletter/Interview Cyrus Callum, Volusia Aviation/Economic Resources Director

Podcast News Topics
Local entities have finalized their FY 2025-26 budgets…FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter
Volusia Innovation Hub, 601 Innovation Way (next to Daytona Intl Airport) held its grand REopening on Sept 15 to mark the facility's management transition and expanded mission from UCF to Volusia's Economic Development Division
DB City Commission approved an ordinance to increase impact fees for residential/commercial construction projects. New fees will be applied to police, fire, transportation and general government.
Deland City Commission increased their impact fees an average of 40% on residential/commercial, office, industrial, assisted living facilities….to supplement city’s cost of Police, Fire, General Govt, Parks/Recreation
Sept 11 - DeLand’s Planning Bd approved an ordinance to allow tiny home communities with 3 or more units, between 200-600 sq ft each
County Chair Jeff Brower will host a town hall mtg Wednesday, Sept 24, 5:30 PM Port Orange Library to get residents’ input on flooding concerns affecting their neighborhoods
Six Volusia County School District employees have new homes due to Homes Bring Hope, community and business partners
NSB City Commission ratified collective agreements with Police Officers and Fire Fighters….approved resolutions for Charter amendments to go on November 2025 ballot….approved applicants for Police, Fire Pension Bds and Planning Bd
Federal Government’s fiscal year ends Sept 30…Congress must pass either complete appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR)…a temporary fix……to keep federal government funded…Trump cancelled meeting with Democrats Sen Chuck Schumer and House Minority Ldr Hakeem Jeffries..US House got back in Washington Sept 23…Senate returns Sept 29
INTERVIEW - Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director Cyrus Callum discusses REopening of Volusia Business Innovation Hub…DBIA passenger traffic….collaboration with Team Volusia and CEO Business Alliance
NOTE - Sept 30….Fla’s minimum wage increase $13 to $14. Tipped employees’ cash wage will increase to $10.98. Per the 2020 constitutional amendment will go to $15 on Sept. 30, 2026…with $11.98 for tipped workers

EP 128 State Atty RJ Larizza; Chief Asst John Reid

Podcast News Topics
Local entities are in final stages of setting their FY 2025-26 budgets…hearings conclude next week…..click the VM newsletter included in today’s email….
FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter
County Council approved the distribution of $8.3 million in Medicaid cost share funds for hospital districts.
Deltona has published District 6 Vacancy Applications (Comm Nick Lulli resigned)….interested persons must submit a resume or letter by Sept 18. Commissioner will then select a new commissioner
Deland City Commission modified/increased their fire/EMS impact fees for residential and commercial structures
Boeing announced new 65,000 sq ft engineering center at ERAU’s Research Park (part of the Cici & Hyatt Brown Ctr for Aerospace Technology) to work with the Dept of Defense to create advanced fighter jets
Tallahassee - House Speaker Daniel Perez names new 11-member Select Committee to redraw Fla's congressional map
Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates by .25%…..first interest rate cut this year….lowers benchmark federal funds rate from 4.25%–4.50% TO 4.00%–4.25%
Purchasing Managers' MANUFACTURING Index (PMI) remains below 50 signaling a reduction in manufacturing, due to production declines and tariff-related pressures…..Purchasing Managers' SERVICES Index rose… thus sustaining US economy's 64-month expansion, despite trade uncertainties and inflation concerns….in other words, a mixed US economic outlook
Local career changes and events….
INTERVIEW - State Attorney RJ Larizza explains basics of Fla’s potential open-carry gun law….

EP 127 Dr Albert Mosley

Sept 8 - Elected Officials Roundtable….School Supt Carmen Balgobin the District’s current A rating designated by the FDOE…..Also….County Councilman Jake Johannson (Co-Chair of the Volusia Stormwater Management/Flood Control Committee) reported on their progress                
 
Deltona City Commissioner Nick Lulli resigned resigned from office……the remainder of Lulli’s term exceeds two years….Deltona City Charter requires remaining Commissioners appoint a replacement within 30 days. The seat is currently vacant and the Commission was supposed to address it at their Sept 8 meeting….but there was no quorum to address the District 6 issue
 
Gov DeSantis re-appointed Maryam Ghyabi-White to St Johns River Water Mgnt District….her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Fla Senate
 
Volusia Legislative delegation meets Oct 29 to hear from local entities for upcoming session….
 
First Step Shelter Bd increased their budget from $1.75 to $1.87 million
 
Investiture for new Volusia County Court Judge Michelle Simonsen  
 
Sept 5 - Team Volusia Bd meeting….CEO Keith Norden spoke of business prospects….
 
Volusia School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) set 2 meetings to negotiate employee contracts
 
Local entities are in the middle of their FY 2025-26 budget hearings….click the VM newsletter to see upcoming hearing dates
 
Estimated tax year 2025 3rd quarterly federal income tax payments are due September 15