Daytona Beach, FL - Both the tentative budget and the tentative millage rate were approved by the Daytona Beach City Commission during their meeting last night (September 18). The new budget for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, is set at $257,659,327. The ad valorem property tax tentative millage rate of 5.8587 ($5.8587 per $1,000 of assessed taxable value). This is a reduction from the current millage rate of 6.2000. Zone 1 Commissioner Ruth Trager made a motion to reduce the millage rate further but got no support.
The new budget is a $10.78 million increase over last year. Some of the money will be used to increase the city's workforce from 878 to 911 and for widespread employee raises of up to 7% over each of the next two fiscal years. For residents, it includes a 3% property tax increase. That means a person who owns a home valued at $150,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption will have a city tax bill of $585, about $17 more than if the rolled-back rate had been used. The $5.85 rate is estimated to generate between $25 and $30 million in property tax revenue.
First Step Shelter Board members signed a lease agreement with the city during their meeting earlier this week. Commissioners signed off on the agreement yesterday. City Clerk Letitia LaMagna read the resolution, explaining "the lease provides for a nominal rent of $10, and a 5-year initial term, with five additional five-year renewal terms upon written agreement of the parties."
Also accomplished during this week's City Commission meeting is the appointment to the First Step Shelter Board of Rose Ann Tornatore, who was given a glowing recommendation by Marjorie Johnson during the public comment period on the appointment. Tornatore is the first woman to serve on the board.
