Ormond to pay share of half-cent sales tax special election

Ormond Beach Observer
News

The half-cent sales tax referendum continues to march forward as the Ormond Beach City Commission voted on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to pay its $25,000 share of the cost for the special mail-in election.

The item, unanimously approved in the commission's consent agenda, details that the city's goal in relation to the sales tax is infrastructure maintenance, repair and replacement. The overall cost of the election is estimated to be $490,000, with the county bearing almost 50% of the money. Ormond Beach is responsible for 5%.

A memo from City Manager Joyce Shanahan on the subject reads that funding is available for the election in the city's general fund

Also at the meeting:

The City Commission tabled a change order that would increase McMahan Construction's contract by over $33,000 for its work replacing and upsizing water mains throughout the city. The project exceeded costs by more than $73,000 and went 158 days over the expected completion date. City Commissioner Troy Kent believed the city shouldn't have to pay for construction's "unforeseen circumstances."
The Commission also tabled Golden Eagles Associates contract renewal for four youth sports, in the hopes of staff bringing back an amended contract requiring the teams to play the national anthem and keep score, when possible, during games.
When approving an amendment to the land development code regarding alcohol and restaurants, the commission approved refunding the $1,600 in application fees to Tipsy Taco Cantina.
The City Commission expressed support for FPL's Solar Together Progam. Suscribers for the program would have a share of FPL's solar system in the company's field, rather than own their own panels. It is currently in a pilot program stage.

contingency account. By agreeing to pay its share, "Ormond Beach will be working in cooperation with other Volusia County municipalities to provide residents with the opportunity to fund much needed improvements to roads and sidewalks, bridges, water quality, stormwater and flood control and amenities ancillary to those facilities," the memo reads.

The half-cent sales tax gained the support from all 16 municipalities last year, but was put on hold by the County Council in May 2018. On Jan. 10, the council directed staff to draft an ordinance for a special election to bring back at its Feb. 5 meeting.

City Commissioner Dwight Selby said that the $25,000 for the special election is "money well spent."

"I do think it's important to have the vote on the referendum as soon as possible, because I think if we don't get it done before the summer break, there's a good chance that it'll take another education process," Selby said. "And who knows what could happen in the fall?"

City Commissioner Rob Littleton said the county has the legal right to call the election, which is why supported the item.

"However, I will be encouraging people to vote no on the sales tax increase," Littleton said.

The county hopes to hold the special election in May.