Palm Coast presents mid‑year budget snapshot showing revenues on track, permits lagging

City of Palm Coast finance staff delivered a six‑month review of revenues and expenditures on April 21, telling the City Council the city is generally on track through March 31, 2026, while calling out some timing and reporting issues that will be addressed in the budget process.

Gwen Ragsdale and Reline Fowman reviewed operating fund performance for fiscal year 2026 (Oct. 1, 2025–Mar. 31, 2026), saying the general fund’s major revenue source — ad valorem property tax — is about 94% collected at mid‑year, which is typical for the city this time of year. State revenue sharing and sales tax distributions are “running right on target,” staff said.

The presentation identified categories that warrant continued monitoring: permit revenues and fees are running below prior year levels in some funds and are recorded in separate funds (building permits are reported in the building fund, not the general fund), which led to questions from council members about where to find consolidated totals. Ragsdale and Fowman also flagged that internal transfers and certain debt service payments affect mid‑year percentages and noted plans to split out debt service for clearer presentation in future budget packets.

Public safety (fire and the contract with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office) was near 50% expended, public works expenditures were about 52% spent, and information technology internal services were elevated because annual subscriptions are purchased early in the fiscal year. Fleet purchases and timing of capital asset receipts were called out as timing‑related variances.

Council members asked for clearer roll‑up tables, year‑over‑year comparisons and a total‑column view that would make it easier to compare departments and funds at a glance. City staff agreed to provide more consolidated totals and to break out recurring items such as debt service so the council can better evaluate the mid‑year positions.

Next steps: staff will post budget documents on the city website as they move through the process. The council was reminded of June 9 for a property‑tax overview and TRIM discussion, July budget workshops and public hearings in September. Ragsdale said staff will continue refining the materials and meet with departments quarterly to review results.

The presentation is intended to inform the FY2027 budget cycle and to give councilmembers time to request additional detail before workshops and public hearings.