To the surprise of no one, the River City’s leaders have set their course for the new 2024 fiscal year without the angst and stress shown in other localities — such as Deltona.
In what may seem like an idyllic, latter-day Mayberry, DeBary now has a budget and tax rate that other towns and cities would covet. The tranquility of DeBary, a city of about 20,000, is such that no one from the public spoke out for or against its budget or property-tax rate. The final action on DeBary’s fiscal blueprints came Sept. 20, when the City Council voted 5-0 to adopt the spending and tax programs.
“And the process is done for this year,” Mayor Karen Chasez said.
DeBary is retaining its distinction of having the lowest ad valorem tax rate of any city in Volusia County and almost no debt.
“Nobody runs government like a business like DeBary,” City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said.
DeBary is keeping its levy for the new fiscal year at its current level, 2.9247 mills, or about $2.92 per thousand dollars of taxable property value. That is about 8 percent higher than the rollback rate of 2.7168 mills, and therefore must be advertised as a tax increase. The city’s low millage results from having two electric power plants, one belonging to FPL and a smaller one owned by Duke Energy.
Moreover, DeBary is increasing its overall wealth, as its tax base has grown 13.5 percent over the past year. The city’s tax roll was just under $4.2 billion in 2022, but it has now risen to more than $4.7 billion, largely because of new upscale residential development, such as Rivington, on the south side.
“We’re not actually raising taxes,” Rosamonda said, adding the city’s revenues are rising “because property values are up.”
Rosamonda, now into his fifth year as city manager of DeBary, said many of the new settlers have come from elsewhere in Central Florida. They are relocating to DeBary, he added, because of “the better quality of life” the River City offers, with parks, trails, natural beauty, and access to the Orlando area via SunRail.
“A lot of folks are coming here because it’s cheaper,” Rosamonda said.
DeBary’s total 2023-24 budget is $55.7 million. The general fund accounts for $31.1 million. Property-tax collections will be approximately $8.2 million, according to the official projections. The city’s energy-utility tax will yield an estimated $1.9 million. DeBary also has nearly $9.3 million in general-fund reserves.
Rosamonda highlighted DeBary’s rather lean government workforce of 46 employees. The city contracts with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement, and it contracts with Orange City for fire-rescue services.
