Don Dempsey
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Top issues during term (20)
Ban on large-scale data centers
Potential costly litigation if a ban is challenged, but no immediate county spending.
Volusia Forever Charter Amendment 5
Voters approved $60 million (2000) and reauthorized in 2020 for conservation land purchases.
Law library services
Costs less than one-tenth of 1% of the county budget, per the speakers.
FY 2026-27 tentative budget and millage rates
Net operating budget drops about $6 million to $1.058 billion; a $350,000 homestead pays about $35 more for countywide services.
Heavy truck traffic on Marsh Road
Residents report cracked driveways and sidewalks from alleged ground movement.
Tree canopy protection
Septic-to-sewer upgrade grant application
$2.25 million, with roughly $1.2 million reimbursed by an FDEP grant.
ECHO Grant Legacy Definition
Future changes possible after Amendment 3 revenue impacts are known in November.
Parks, Recreation and Culture director appointment
Fiscal Year 2025-26 year-end budget reconciliation
$13,341,410 in budgeted expenditures reconciled for the fiscal year-end.
Additional December Council meeting
Beachside business parking fees
Businesses report lost customers deterred by full-day parking fees.
Veteran homelessness and V3P program
The program saved veterans over $49,000 and raised over $32,000 for an endowment.
Board term limits denied
Sheriff's Office funding dispute
About $3.4 million more than rollback in the law enforcement fund.
State property tax reform threat to county services
Potential $100 million in spending cuts and an 18-28% ECHO revenue hit if reform passes.
Union Cemetery maintenance
County spends only on basic inmate-labor maintenance since it does not own the property.
Backyard Chicken Regulations
Saves residents permit and course costs and frees county staff time.
Hope Street paving and stormwater concerns
Stormwater fund cannot afford capital projects by FY30 without a fee increase.
$5 million road subsidy review
Up to $5 million of general fund money for road resurfacing and safety projects could be redirected at final adoption.
Decisions during term (254)
Recorded while Dempsey was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of the agenda
Consent agenda (all items except H)
Item H — Art in Public Places 'Galaxy Mangrove' statue (tabled)
Veterans Day and Miguel Avilus Day proclamations
Volusia Values Veterans program review
Confirmation of Jason Watkins as Aviation and Economic Resources Director
Harper Road comp plan amendment (CPA-26-085)
Harper Road rezoning (Z-26-086)
Rezoning 6.5 acres, 5793 State Road 11 (Z-26-076)
Gow pool variance appeal (6985 S. Atlantic Ave.)
Ordinance 2026-22 — ban on large-scale data centers (second reading)
Plat vacation — Wexford Reserve Unit 2 (20223)
Plat vacation — West Highlands (20243)
Vacation — West Highlands (20246)
Vacation — West Highlands (20242)
ECHO Advisory Committee at-large eastside appointment
Personnel Board appointments
Historic Preservation Board reappointment
FILE NUMBER 20233 Amendment of hangar lease agreement between NASCAR and the County of Volusia
FILE NUMBER 20241 Avigation Easement for 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach
Voting record (17)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
12-month moratorium on license plate readers
First reading of Ordinance 2026-22 — ban on large-scale data centers
Concerned warehouses could convert to data centers — a 'Trojan horse' — and about sinkhole risk.
2026 ECHO Grant Cycle awards (list excluding Daytona Beach)
Wanted the D-Ranch Preserve project pulled for a weak feasibility study rather than approved with the package.
APPROVAL of the entire list as recommended by staff.
Harvey Avenue Boardwalk Extension — Daytona Beach ECHO project
Budget direction: general fund rollback, law library cut, econ-dev transfer
Tentative budget and millage rates, FY 2026-27
Large-scale data center ban direction (Ordinance 2026-16)
Urged a permanent ban citing Volusia's sinkhole susceptibility and five-million-gallon daily water drawdown risk.
include the database to go up to 10 years back and to include the Domestic Abuse Council’s information on the webpage
the vacate application for Greg Belitz to be rescheduled with the $660 reapplication fee waived and for the petitioner to pay for the re-advertisement
Domestic abuser database resolution (Item 11)
Concerns about wrongful convictions, court system impacts, and lack of consultation with the Clerk, Public Defender and court administration.