ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 13, NO. 43
Best advice I ever got PAGE 4A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025
Judge: Ormond Beach is liable for River Bend taxes After seven years, a partial ruling has been issued: The city has to pay the golf course’s unpaid taxes. PAGE 2A
Officials await governor’s decision on SB 180 The bill, if signed, would preempt cities from making land uses, zoning more restrictive. PAGE 5A INSIDE 2026 ELECTIONS
Ormond Beach retired financial analyst files to run for Zone 2 PAGE 5A
‘NO KINGS’
Protest draws thousands in Daytona Beach, joining millions worlwide. PAGE 8A
Ormond Beach goes international First International Day Festival brings food, music and dancing to Rockefeller Gardens. PAGE 3A
CASE CLOSED
Medical examiner uses personal diving expertise to solve missing diver case. PAGE 6A
REHAB EXPANSION Halifax Health Brooks Rehabilitation announces newly expanded unit. PAGE 4A
Volunteer Barbara Bonarrigo, of Ormond Beach, carries a German flag to represent her home country at the International Day Festival at the Rockerfeller Gardens on Saturday, June 14. Photo by Michele Meyers
FEATURED FAMILY
Off-beach parking revenue less than expected
INDEX
Volusia budgeted for $7.1 million of revenue in the 2025 fiscal year from the ParkVolusia program. Revenues are now projected to be closer to $2.9 million.
Meet OMAM’s featured art night family for June 2025. PAGE 5B
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JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Revenues from Volusia County’s new off-beach paid parking program are looking to be over $4 million less than what the county projected, but officials are still counting the initiative as a success. During a budget presentation at the County Council’s meeting on Tuesday, June 17, County Finance Director Ryan Ossowski said staff had budgeted for $7.1 million of revenue in the 2025 fiscal year from the ParkVolusia program, which was launched on Jan. 1 and charges visitors $20 a day to park in off-beach lots.
Residents continue to be able to park for free. Based on data collected to date, the county now expects revenues to be closer to $2.9 million. The $7.1 million estimate was high, Ossowski said. “It was based off of a consultant,” he said. “They told us what to budget. So that is where the shortfall comes in. It’s still $2.9 million of additional revenue we didn’t have last year, but it’s not as much as it was estimated to be.” When factoring in the net cost of the fee collection contractor, Ossowski said the county is bringing in nearly a million dollars. “Under the new contract, there’s increased costs because we’re putting in equipment for automation, which will lead to all the beach ramps being open,” he said. “So it’s a high-
er level of customer service than what we have right now.” Without the off-beach paid parking revenue, the county would have subsidize the beach management fund by $2.8 million. The new revenue lowers the subsidy to $1.8 million. The subsidy, Ossowski explained, supports the beach as a whole — the cost of lifeguards, capital improvements and operating expenses. “ We ’ r e ea r n i n g a n additional million dollars in revenue than we did last year, while giving residents free access to the beach and a new contract with automation that opens all the ramps, all the time,” said Benjamin Bartlett, county Public Works director.
INSIDE
Hoop, there it is! Summer basketball league for boys and girls gives a preview of next year’s season.
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