DeBary keeps stormwater assessment level as council debates public/private fee structure

The DeBary City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-10 to set stormwater non-ad valorem assessments for fiscal year 2025–26, maintaining the current assessment structure. The resolution passed unanimously.

During debate, Council member Papalardo asked staff to study alternatives, including a single flat rate for all parcels. Papalardo said the current public-vs.-private classification is confusing to residents and has generated litigation elsewhere. The city manager and staff described the history: the assessment structure dates to 2007–08 and much of the stormwater budget supports an emergency management pumping system serving public streets. The city manager noted that 30% of the stormwater revenue goes to personnel and 40% to debt service tied to prior capital investments; staff also said the debt service expires in 2028.

Council member Stevenson asked whether the majority of residents are on public or private systems; staff said many properties are on private stormwater systems and private streets, and that answering Papalardo's request would require a study and comparisons with other cities. Council members asked staff to provide a modeled flat-rate number for the next meeting so the council can consider whether a simplified structure is feasible.

The motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-10 passed unanimously; council directed staff to prepare analysis on a unified flat-rate assessment and to show how the stormwater budget and debt service would be affected if classifications were changed.