- April 17, 2024
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Ormond Beach will give its share of $82,000 to help fund the construction of the First Step shelter in Daytona Beach, the city commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday night.
“I’m proud Ormond Beach is going to be a part of that partnership to make it happen,” Mayor Bill Partington said.
Ormond Beach joins the city of Daytona Beach, as well as various Volusia County organizations and businesses that have pledged financial support for the construction of the 100-person homeless shelter planned near the Volusia County jail.
Commissioners Troy Kent and Rob Littleton expressed concerns about pledging such a large sum.
During the discussion, Kent said a homeless shelter should be funded by the state.
“How much it will help Ormond Beach is still up in the air."
Zone 4 Comissioner Rob Littleton on the First Step homeless shelter.
“But once again, it’s going to get pushed down to the little guys—the cities,” Kent said. “And it’s going to be pushed on to [taxpayers] to pay for this.”
Littleton said the shelter is sure to help some homeless in the area, but he was concerned if the shelter would ultimately work. He said First Step isn’t a homeless solution, but a jail-diversion program.
“How much it will help Ormond Beach is still up in the air,” Littleton said.
However, both Kent and Littleton agreed from they were going to support it and see how the project goes in the next couple of years. Commissioner Dwight Selby was appointed to represent Ormond Beach in the project.
The city commission also approved the construction of a public dog park, on which the commissioners voted 4-1. Littleton voted against the $500,000 project due to his concerns on the cost and the $247,000 that will be given to the local YMCA in order for the park for fee-free maintenance.
“There’s no clawback provision with that money,” Littleton said. “So it’s unsecured and there’s no previous precedent from Ormond Beach where we’ve given that much money, that large amount of sums, in an unsecured fashion.”
He added the money for fee-free maintenance won’t be good in a decade, and the city will have to ultimately spend more.
During the meeting, Littleton compared the proposed cost for the dog park to what other cities, both near and far, have spent on similar projects. Some of the cities he mentioned were DeLand, which spent over $35,000 for their dog park, and New Smyrna Beach who declined to spend $27,000 on a dog park in 2012, citing it was too expensive.
"This is what Ormond Beach is all about. Quality."
Zone 1 Commissioner Dwight Selby.
Construction will cost Ormond Beach $253,000, the remaining amount after the YMCA fee-free maintenance cost.
“Truly every time I’ve looked over this deal, I get sick to my stomach,” Littleton said. “I’m sure staff in some way, could probably do it cheaper and better.”
The rest of the city commissioners were onboard with the project.
“It’s something that I’ve heard from numerous of our residents that they want,” Partington said. “Seeing the quality park that’s being built, I think it’s worth it to give our resident the amenities that they’re asking for.”
The city commission also approved a tentative millage rate of 4.2843. The commission voted 4-1, with Littleton voting against.
He said the city will be raising water, wastewater and waste management rates and he wanted to give taxpayers a break.
Selby, who voted in favor of the tentative millage rate, said the increase in taxes will go toward improving the city.
“That’s what Ormond Beach is all about,” said Selby during the budget workshop. “Quality.”
Commissioner Rick Boehm also announced for the sixth year in a row, Ormond Beach received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.
“For a community of our size to be an award-winning community on behalf of doing the budget, I think it’s a great thing,” Boehm said.
Ormond Beach currently has the third lowest operating tax rate in the county. Debary and New Smyrna rank first and second lowest respectively. The next public hearing on the city’s budget will take place September 5.
