- February 5, 2025
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Port Orange City Council adopted the city's final millage rate and budget for 2019 during its general meeting on Sept. 19.
The millage rate increased from 4.4881 to 4.6288, which is a 3.13% increase over last year and 9.99% over rollback. A medical transport unit was the only new service, and it will cost the city about $217,000. Without the unit, the tax increase would be 1.55% over the 2018 budget and 8.3% over the rollback rate.
The increase will fund current programs at their current level of service, including car maintenance, increased costs of electricity for new buildings, salary increases and additional staff positions. The city added police officers and a firefighter, in addition to the three included in medical transport costs. It also invested in a transition plan to ensure the city's current and future standards align with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Councilmen Chase Tramont and Bob Ford remained opposed to the tax increase.
Ford said it will hurt businesses, people moving to the area, real estate and those living on limited incomes. He also said he is hesitant to enter into ambulance services until the county can resolve its issues.
"At this point, we have a moving target out there with a great deal of discussion going on at the county level about the ambulance," he said. "It is foolish of us to jump into this expensive and difficult endeavor until we know the ground rules and what is going to happen."
Councilman Drew Bastian continued to support adding the unit. He said even with the increase, Port Orange will have one of the lowest millage rates in Volusia County, ranking 13th or 14th, and people and businesses will continue to move here.
"We had to make tough decisions to provide a service that isn't being provided adequately at a higher level, and I don't have qualms with that because it's about taking care of our people," he said.
Councilman Scott Stiltner said he is more confident now than ever that City Council is making the right decision to add the unit, especially after hearing comments from Volusia County EMS Medical Director Peter Springer at the Volusia County Council meeting on Sept. 18.
"His comments led me to fully believe the county is completely reliant on the city PLUS programs at this time," Stiltner said. "Right, wrong or indifferent, I don't think that should be the case. However, absent that action, I am not willing to put lives at risk in the city of Port Orange."
Mayor Don Burnette said it was a difficult decision to take on the responsibility, and there will be a learning curve. However, as the city grows, it has to take an incremental approach to improving continuity of care and public safety.
"That is not something you want to fall behind on," he said.
