Know the Vote

The City Charter, which was adopted by a referendum on Sept. 9, 1995, is the foundation for Deltona’s City Commission/Manager form of government. It provides the framework for self-governance within the guidelines of Florida law. 

The Deltona City Commission consists of seven elected officials and an appointed City Manager. Residents elect a Mayor who represents the City at-large and six Commissioners who represent specific districts.

Deltona’s elected officials serve with compensation as provided in the City Charter and may receive reimbursement of actual expenses incurred while performing official duties. The Commission is responsible for the legislative and policy functions of our City government including the appointment of two charter officers, the City Manager and City Attorney.

In accordance with the Charter, the City Commission appointed a Charter Review Committee to review the Charter, hosted two public hearings on their suggested changes and is thus bringing these suggested changes to Deltona’s voters. Here are the questions that will be placed on the Nov. 4 election ballot:

1. Should the City Charter establish a six-month residency requirement for candidates for Mayor or Commissioner and provide for a qualifying fee in lieu of the signature requirement?
The Charter currently states that at the time of qualification for office that each Commission candidate must reside within the boundary of his or her district and that at the time of qualification the Mayor must live within the City limits. The Charter also requires candidates submit the signatures of at least 100 residents of the district he or she represents in order to qualify.

2. Should the Mayor and Commissioners be compensated in an amount equivalent to that of other comparable Florida cities?
The Charter currently allows that the Mayor and Commissioners to receive an annual salary equivalent to the average annual salary of the Mayor and Commissioners at cities in Volusia County.

3. Should Charter Officers only be appointed or removed by a supermajority (5) of the full City Commission?
The City Commission is made up of six commissioners and one mayor. The Charter currently states that Charter Officers can be removed from office by a majority (4) vote of the full Commission. This would require one more (a vote of five).

4. Should education be a factor in choosing a City Manager and should the City Manager be given  the additional duties of assisting the Commission with developing long-term goals and strategies for the City, providing staff support for regional and intergovernmental cooperation and submitting reports to the commission and promoting partnerships among the Commission, staff and citizens in developing policy and building a sense of community?
Currently the Charter states the City Manager shall be selected on the basis of experience, expertise, and management ability as it pertains to running municipal government. This question further defines the qualifications and duties of the City Manager.

5. Should an in-house City Attorney be required to establish residency within the City and have full managerial authority over employees in the City Attorney’s office?
The Charter does not currently require residency for the City Attorney and only allows for him to appoint, suspend or remove assistant attorneys. The remainder of the City Attorney staff is City employees and are hired or terminated with respect to the personnel policies and procedures of the City.

6. Should the Canvassing Board be increased from two to three members who are not elected officials or running for office and who remain neutral in all political activity in the current municipal City election?
The Charter currently states that the City Clerk and a representative designated by the Commission shall be known as the Canvassing Board. At the end of any City election, the Canvassing Board ensures that absentee ballots are delivered to the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections and opens the ballots in the presence of a Supervisor of Elections representative. They also report the election results to the City Commission.

7. Should the Charter Review Committee be increased from five to seven members?
The Charter currently states that the Committee be made up five members.  Increasing the membership to seven members allows each member of the City Commission to appoint one member to the Charter Review Committee.

8. Should the number of signatures required for citizen initiative and referendum be reduced from 25 percent of registered voters to 10 percent of the total registered voters?
The Charter states that 25 percent of the qualified electorate of the City can petition the Commission to propose an ordinance or to require reconsideration of an adopted ordinance.

Information below each question includes paraphrase language from the City Charter and is included only for information purposes. Click here to read the City’s Official Charter.

Law Enforcement Question

On Nov. 4, Deltona's residents will have the opportunity to decide one of the City's most important issues since incorporation. Voters will find a referendum question asking them to choose whether they want Deltona to have its own Police Department, or to continue to contract with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement.

Because there are so many different thoughts on this issue, it is crucial for a large voter turnout… and the City urges all registered voters to have a voice in this decision. The best way to be prepared for the ballot booth is to read the Willdan Police Feasibility Study information from the Volusia County Sheriff's on maintaining the existing contract.  

Both the study and the Sheriff's Office Web site include information on the annual costs for a new police department as opposed to staying with the Sheriff's Office. Additionally, they can read how many police officers residents would see patrolling the streets of Deltona, compared to the number of deputies assigned to the City.  Both reports have historical data on area crime statistics, and how a Deltona Police Department would compare to the law enforcement agencies of other cities.

Both options, creating our own Police Department and continuing to contract with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office are projected to cost at least 8.8 million. The projected cost for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office contract for 2009-1010 is 9.1 million, figuring a 5 percent increase. The contract has increased on average 5 percent or more every year.  For 2009-2010, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office will have a staff of 72 working in the City of Deltona—69 officers and three administrative personnel. The Willdan Group projects a similar operations budget for a City Police Department, provided that the City finances the start up costs over a five year period of time. They also project a City Police Department in 2009-2010 could have 93 employees—81 officers and 12 administrative staff.

During this transition period it may be necessary, to incur costs from the Sheriff’s Office and a Police Department in the same budget.

When voters become knowledgeable on City issues, the voting process becomes faster and easier. Remember most Deltona residents will find themselves staring at a two-page ballot when they enter that voting booth.

The biggest choice you can make is to decide to vote.