- February 23, 2025
Also: Final vote set for city millage rate.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The city has entered a public-private partnership with the Volusia Flagler YMCA to construct a dog park at the facilities on Sterhaus Drive.
The city will take $347,500 out of general fund reserves and $152,500 from capital improvement funds for their share. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $656,900, with the balance paid by the YMCA, which is currently having a fund drive to renovate the building at the site. Charles Lydecker, an executive at Brown and Brown Insurance who is spearheading the effort, said more than $3.5 million has been raised and it may reach $5 million.
Construction is expected to start early next year.
Usage of the 1.5 acre park will be open to the public, even if they are not members of the YMCA. It will include a “doggie/people” fitness trail and will be maintained by the YMCA.
The project has been discussed by officials for several months, but a new item was brought up at the Aug. 9 City Commission meeting. The YMCA requested that people who use the dog park pay an annual registration fee of $25 to pay for a special tag showing that the dog has received all of its shots.
While the commissioners were in favor of a registration fee, they did not agree on the $25 figure.
City Commissioner Troy Kent said he wasn’t comfortable with Ormond Beach residents paying $25, because they were paying the $500,000 for construction. Mayor Ed Kelley said the registration tag is needed because he wouldn’t want to take his dog there if other dogs had not had shots. The commissioners agreed to work out the fee a later date.
The city has long seen the need for a dog park, according to City Manager Joyce Shanahan. She said a site at Nova Community Park had long been considered, but it’s not a desirable location because there are presently youth recreation areas where dogs are not allowed.
City sets tentative tax rate
The City Commission gave approval to a tentative millage rate and budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, with a final vote set for Sept. 23.
The millage will be 4.2843, but after general obligation bonds are added, it will be 4.557.
The bonds are 0.1010 for construction of the police station; 0.0435 for construction of Fire Station 92 on Nova Road; and 0.1282 for Andy Romano Park.
If a person’s house, after homestead and other deductions, is valued at $100,000 by the County property appraiser, the tax bill from the city will be $455.70. Last year, for the same house, the tax rate was 4.406 and the bill was $440.60.
The millage is 8.79% over the rolled-back rate, which would have brought in the same amount of revenue as last year.
The budget for the fiscal year will be $85,985,246, if approved. It’s about $6 million higher than last year’s budget. At workshops this year, additional costs for year were mentioned as additional police officers, a new neighborhood improvement officer, an information technology specialist, facilities repair and replacement, supplies for the Environmental Discover Center and a new software for the city called the Enterprise Resource System.
