Plan "b"

 DISCUSSION TOPICS/QUESTIONS ASKED- WHERE DO I STAND?

BUDGET:  What are your priorities in drafting and adopting the budget?

Every budget line should be understandable, justified, and connect to a public purpose. Before we spend on wants, we need to accurately fund the basics: roads that stay open, neighborhoods that drain, and infrastructure that is aging along with ensuring new infrastructure protects homes. Legal- reduce avoidable risk through better decisions, clearer processes, and accountability. Public Safety is essential, but every increase still deserves review, explanation, and measurable outcomes. Deltona residents deserve a budget that funds the basics first while making every dollar transparent and justified. Community events are important, but they should also be strategically funded and managed. I will continue to ask hard questions, push for clear explanations, and make sure every dollar is accounted for.

Based on the last three years, my top 10 priority list for the FY26-27 is:

1. Fund balance: Are reserves being used for one-time capital or recurring expenses?

2. Budget vs. actual: Why was FY24-25 operating spending nearly $11M below budget?

3. Police/Fire: What measurable service improvements accompany the roughly $15.6M annual cost for law enforcement? Same applies to our Fire CBA annual costs of roughly $17.39mil

4. Administrative/general-government spending: Which increases are actual growth versus departmental reorganizations?

5. Infrastructure: How much is truly being spent on roads, drainage and infrastructure across all funds?

6. Capital execution: Are we budgeting projects faster than the city can actually complete them?

7. Vacancies: Are vacant funded positions accumulating in the budget year after year?

8. Parks/events: Separate maintenance and recreation services from discretionary events so the Commission can evaluate them independently.

9. Recurring contracts/professional services: Identify contracts that have quietly become permanent operating expenses.

10. Performance: Require major spending increases to be tied to a measurable result.

More in depth questions that I feel is important for the Public to understand:

If we finished FY24-25 nearly $11 million under the operating budget, but then adopted FY25-26 using roughly $9.1 million of fund balance, I think we need a clear reconciliation of those two numbers. What drove the underspending, what was carried forward, and how much of the fund balance appropriation is actually expected to be spent?

The nearly $11 million gap between budgeted and actual operating spending. Deltona's FY24-25 audit shows General Fund operating expenditures came in approximately $10.97 million below budget, with vacancies cited as a significant contributor. That raises a bigger question than simply whether the next budget is balanced: Are we building the budget around realistic spending expectations?

Question: Before we increase appropriations again, can staff explain the major components of the nearly $11 million FY24-25 operating variance and identify which of those expenses are being budgeted again?

Using fund balance/reserves—and whether any of it supports recurring costs. The FY25-26 adopted General Fund uses about $9.1 million in fund balance as a financing source. A substantial amount of capital spending makes that potentially reasonable; using reserves for one-time projects is fundamentally different from using them to sustain ongoing payroll, contracts or programs.

Question: Of the fund balance being used, exactly how much is for one-time capital expenditures and how much, if any, is supporting recurring operating expenses?

I really stress this one because recurring expenses funded from reserves create a structural problem later.

The VCSO/DFD contracts: rising cost needs measurable outcomes. Law enforcement is approximately $15.56 million in FY25-26, and the city has been increasing contracted staffing. Our Fire comes in around $17.39mil. This isn't an argument to cut police/fire; it's an argument for contract accountability.

Question: As the law-enforcement/fire department contracts continue to increase, what performance measures are we using to determine whether residents are receiving improved service—response times, proactive patrol hours, traffic enforcement, clearance rates or other measurable outcomes? 

FLOODING: What do you intend to do about flooding?

Prioritize proactive stormwater management, infrastructure improvements, responsible development, and long-term planning to reduce flooding and better protect homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. Development plays a huge role in our flooding as does lack of maintenance of our draining systems. Since 2022 I have brought forward many solutions and started many discussions about the flooding in District 1. I've went out in the early aftermath of hurricanes to clear drains that were causing yards to flood because they were never maintained before storm season- thats unacceptable. I've discussed a few times about clearing the overgrown outlets and returning flow to Deep Creek- I intend to request a more detailed overview for this. Parma property is another area that is vital to the neighborhood and protects numerous neighborhoods, properties, and roads from flooding during heavy rains- let alone hurricanes- yet they keep trying to develop it into high density- Ive fought against it before and I will continue to fight against development of our crucial marsh lands. With the Teresa Basin Study finishing up, I'm ready to actually move these changes forward and not wait another 5 yrs and pay for yet another study like history has shown this City Government doing for years- Pay big money for a study and then implement none of the suggested changes- this will end under my oversight.

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT/1ST ADMENDMENT: What is your outlook on public comment?

I am very PRO 1st Amendment and I intend to return the government back to the People of Deltona by requesting various changes to both Workshops and Commission Meetings! I support bringing back 4 minute public speaking, public comment occurring during the main meeting time- and provided online, and for residents to be respected- heard- and responded to in a timely manner. I intend to push to eradicate surprise requests that require a vote- currently bypassing the requirement to notice the public on the topic because they can deem it not of controversy. I also would like to propose a change to the ineffective and inefficient current process of our meetings. In order for these meeting to be effective and efficient they first must be properly utilized as their original intent. I will propose the following for discussion:

Workshops(Engagement)- Twice a month- Longer meetings meant to have open, detailed, thought-provoking discussion and debate about upcoming agenda items that will come for vote at the main Commission Meeting. All documents and data should be available at this time for review. This meeting will include discussion and dialogue from the public and is where the staff/commission should be prepared to answer the community's questions and concerns. 

Commission Meeting (Business)- Twice a month- Shorter meetings meant to overview the workshop, answer any last questions or concerns, and commence business by taking votes on the items already previously discussed with the public.

SB180/DEVELOPMENT: Has the city been impacted by SB 180 which limited local control? If so, what is the impact and what ideas do you have to address the issue? 

There are numerous concerns regarding SB180 and I don't think Deltona has seen the true impacts in full as this is all relatively new legislation. Regardless where someone stands on SB180, it has changed what cities like Deltona can and cannot do. That is just Fact. My responsibility is to understand those limits, protect our residents, and advocate for the local authority we need to make decisions that reflect Deltona's needs. It would be my responsibility to understand every tool available, use every legal option to protect Deltona, and ensure residents understand what decisions are being made and why. In terms of development it is extremely important that we look at ALL the effects and what our options truly are. I do not support bringing in truck loads of dirt to make soggy wet land buildable. I do not support rezoning large parcels to become high density subdivisions- we have had that for 10years under the outcry of having diverse land available. I do not support high density building that would negatively impact traffic and safety, further impede the response time of emergency services, or that overcrowds the local schools past a 95% capacity rate.

WORKING TOGETHER: What will you do to help improve the relationships among the elected officials including the mayor to promote collaboration and effective leadership?

We should each be free thinking individuals who are there to represent the residents. Effective Leadership starts with the core values listed within- LDRSHP. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honesty, and Personal Courage. We don't have to agree on every issue, but we do have to hold hard conversations- sometimes even debate an issue- in order to effectively work together in a way that serves the residents who elect us. I don't believe collaboration means everyone has to vote the same way. It means we remain focused on the shared mission of serving Deltona Residents. If we can keep residents at the center of every decision, collaboration becomes much easier because our common purpose is clear!