City Of Deltona Fl

Deltona studies problem of plunging property values

DELTONA -- The city's population and public-safety spending have grown nearly in tandem over the past decade.

But spending on the other aspects of Deltona government has been cut way back because the city's tax base has declined to a level below what it was 10 years ago, a result of dwindling property values every year since the housing bubble burst.

And yet nearly 6 in 10 households still pay less than $200 in city property taxes each year.

With those facts, Deltona city commissioners on Friday kicked off a daylong discussion of how to approach the 2011-12 city budget.

They looked at four scenarios, starting with a budget they considered "full funding," raising $32.6 million that would allow them to get back on track with the city's road-maintenance, sidewalks and replacement-equipment fund projects.

That scenario did not include one big-ticket extra that at least one commissioner, Michael Carmolingo, was pushing: Four additional deputies, in addition to the 73 the city currently contracts with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

City staff estimates the cost of adding four new deputies at $544,000.

And none of the commissioners present -- Herb Zischkau was absent -- supported the tax increases that would come along with the full-funding scenario.

There appeared to be a split among commissioners. Some, including Mayor John Masiarczyk and Heidi Herzberg, supported keeping the rolled-back tax rate, which would generate the same amount of general-fund revenue as the city will spend this year, just more than $31 million.

"It costs about $1 per day per person to run the city of Deltona," Herzberg said, defending the higher spending plan..

Under Florida law, adopting the rolled-back rate does not constitute a tax increase, even though it is higher than the current rate.

Other commissioners, though, including Zenaida Denizac, said they preferred a reduction from rollback, which would be considered a tax cut. Denizac's chosen scenario would generate $30.8 million.

The city presented a scenario that would use the current tax rate -- a figure that's been devalued by lower property appraisals -- that would generate $28.4 million. No commissioners expressed support for that dramatic of a budget cut.

Carmolingo pushed for the higher spending plan -- with a caveat.

"I'm concerned with the deputies. I see where we have money in here for sidewalks, which are very important, but deputies and safety are more important," he said. "I'm a very staunch supporter of adding deputies.

Deltona, Florida Real Estate and a Little History - Blogger

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Florida became a state in 1845. Just prior to that, the Timucuan Indians were the original inhabitants of what is now known as the City of Deltona in Volusia County. Fish and fresh water was plentiful. When Florida became a state, steamboats began making regular trips up and down the St. Johns River to Lake Monroe. Soon, visitors began settling in the state and a community developed on the shores of Lake Monroe near the steamboat landing. The City of Deltona was founded in 1962. It is the largest city in Volusia County and is located east of Interstate 4 and north of Lake Monroe. Deltona, Florida is the twenty-ninth largest city in Florida with an estimated population in 2009 of 84,264. It is North of Orlando, Florida and is considered a suburb of Orlando. The City of Deltona is almost entirely residential. The city's economy is largely a state and regional economy depending on surrounding communities for work, shopping and entertainment. The economy in Deltona is mostly service oriented.

There are 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 2 high schools in Deltona, and approximately 4 private schools. A campus of Daytona State College is within the city limits. Also nearby there is Seminole State College and the University of Central Florida.

Deltona is served by Central Florida Regional Hospital, Fish Memorial, Florida Hospital/Deland, Florida Hospital Altamonte, and Florida Hospital at Lake Mary. Florida Hospital Medical Center and Orlando Regional Healthcare System (ORMC) are less than 45 minutes south of Deltona via I-4. Travel a bit farther and you'll find Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. Recently opened in Orlando is the new Amway Arena, home of the champion NBA Orlando Magic. Just east of Deltona are miles of pristine beaches on the Atlantic Ocean including the World's Most Famous Beach, Daytona Beach.

The name, Deltona, comes from a combination of two nearby cities: DeLand and Daytona. It has grown steadily since it was officially incorporated as a city on December 31, 1995.

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