- April 24, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
What has been COVID-19’s financial impact on the city of Ormond Beach?
According to a second quarter financial status report, approved by the City Commission via the consent agenda at its meeting on Tuesday, May 26, six sources of general fund revenues reported losses from January to March, some larger than others.
There has been a decrease of 1.03% in utility taxes, of which account of 43.4% of the budget. In the 2018-2019 fiscal year-to-date, the city collected $1.72 million in utility taxes; this year-to-date (2019-2020), the city has collected $1.7 million.
Ormond’s communication tax receipts are also down by 4.88%, with $528,805 collected so far, which is about $27,000 less than last year-to-date.
Business taxes are the second most impacted revenue source, decreasing by 24.66% to $47,459 from last year-to-date’s figure of $62,992. Fines and forfeitures are also down by 24.08%, a drop of about $12,000 from last year-to-date; the current figure stands at $37,364. According to the city staff report on the subject, this was attributed to the temporary closing of city facilities.
Charges for services are down 22.28%, going from $494,819 last year-to-date to $384,563. This encompasses the county library lease and leisure services user charges.
The largest drop in revenue has come from “miscellaneous revenue,” which the report states include interest and internal service charges for fleet and engineering. This revenue fell over $200,000 from last year to date. As of March, the city had collected $593,439, a drop of 26.41%.
While intergovernmental revenues (consisting of sales tax and municipal revenue sharing) didn’t report a loss in the second quarter, the city does expect to see a significant loss come next quarter.
As for expenditures, while they have increased about 9% from last year-to-date, the first six months have utilized 49.8% of the budgeted expenses. Decreases in expenditures were reported in the following line items: City Commission, planning, engineering, streets, economic development, environmental learning, grants and aids, and transfers.
The city of Ormond Beach’s playgrounds and splash pads reopened on Saturday, May 23.
The city made the announcement via a press release, where it stated that the decision was made in support with the governor’s lift of restrictions on all youth activities. Residents should continue to follow all CDC guidelines regarding social distancing. The city also encourages residents use hand sanitizer before and after utilizing the playgrounds and the splash pads. The surfaces at these facilities are not routinely sanitized, the city stated in the press release, and residents should use them at their own discretion.
City summer camps will look different this year, as the city will be offering a “Summer Connections Camp” where children 6-12 years old will be divided into smaller groups at different locations, according to Leisure Services new operating plans during the pandemic. This was approved via the consent agenda.
Children will have their temperatures taken every morning. A COVID-19 related release form will need to be signed by parents.
Staff members will be assigned one group of nine campers for the entirety of the camp. Enviro Camp and Camp T-Rec will not be held.
