Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Sounding the Klaxon in the City of Daytona Beach – A Cause for Concern?

They say the benefit of experience is hindsight. 

Having spent the bulk of my adult life in municipal government, I’ve seen instances of waste and the misuse of public funds – and I’ve been guilty of honest mistakes that cost taxpayers.

Those who manage budgets often say you can’t get blood out of a turnip. 

Trust me, I’ve tried when asked to make draconian cuts to my department’s costs and services during lean times. Based on that experience, I can attest that deep cuts to spending sounds good to some, but you won’t always like what the turnip looks like when your done with it…

In government, like the private sector, those painful errors, omissions, and extravagances allow smart elected and appointed officials to look back at successes and failures, analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly of past decisions, then apply those difficult lessons when making future judgements.

They call it “experiential learning” or “institutional knowledge,” but getting older I realize life is really a gradual release from ignorance – the hard-earned wisdom that comes from touching a hot stove – and understanding the importance of controlling the controllables.

During my productive years in public service, I used the discretion afforded my position to develop an internal policy to protect public assets in the use of government issued purchasing cards – known colloquially as “P Cards.” 

Rather than have authorized individuals carry their p-cards, I directed that the cards assigned to my department be kept in a lockbox maintained by my trusted administrative assistant.  When the need arose, the individual would sign out their respective card, complete the transaction, then both the receipt and p-card would be returned and signed for.  

The straightforward process strengthened existing internal policies governing requisitions and purchasing, and ensured every expenditure was preapproved and the transaction documented before it was routed for proper accounting and external audit.

In my experience, those simple physical safeguards eliminated the problem of “Oh, I must have gotten my city card and personal credit card mixed up,” or “I used my personal car for a work errand, so I got gas on my p-card,” or the on-the-spot conundrum of determining whether a lunch, incidental, or other expense was authorized.

It wasn’t an issue of trust – the controls merely helped ensure accountability in the expenditure of public funds.  Given the fact I was personally responsible for the assets and personnel entrusted to my department, it was something I could mitigate with little hassle or inefficiency with a high degree of integrity.

I was reminded of that process last week when The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s investigative journalist Eileen Zaffiro-Kean published an exposé headlined “Are Daytona Beach city workers abusing purchase cards? An internal auditor wants to know,” detailing potential problems with the issuance of some 280 purchasing cards provided to both city employees and private contractors.

The question arose after Daytona Beach Commissioner Stacy Cantu, a resolute watchdog who keeps the best interests of her constituents at the forefront, examined city p-card purchases and found “some of the transactions to be alarming.”

According to the News-Journal’s report, “You can’t make this stuff up,” Cantu said at the Wednesday, Nov. 5, City Commission meeting. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Cantu has been shocked to discover about 280 of the 1,000 city employees have P-Cards. And she was especially dismayed to see even 10 contract employees who manage Halifax Harbor Marina for the city had P-cards.

City Manager Deric Feacher has department heads checking their employees’ P-Card purchases for any possible improper use. The head of the Utilities Department is reviewing more than 1,300 P-Card statements from the 57 cardholders in her divisions, and so far she doesn’t see anything “that doesn’t look reasonable.”

During a recent City Commission meeting, City Manager Deric Feacher directed the city’s new internal auditor, Abinet Belachew, audit purchases and examine the issuance and use of p-cards across all city departments and contractors.    

Last week, Mr. Feacher sent a prepared statement to WFTV-9’s Demie Johnson – a tenacious investigative reporter doing the Lord’s work who has requested an in-person interview with the City Manager for over a week (?) – which read, in part:

“Taxpayers deserve confidence that every dollar we spend is handled responsibly, and I take that responsibility very seriously. The city has significant oversight and review processes in place for employee purchasing cards, including multiple levels of approval and regular monitoring of transactions.”

According to the statement, Mr. Feacher claimed that, in addition to the city’s internal audit, he was “…assembling an internal committee of senior staff to take a fresh, comprehensive look at all of our policies and practices.”

Unfortunately, many were confused last Friday when Mr. Feacher adamantly refused to speak with the WFTV reporter and was last seen on camera getting into his car and skedaddling out of a City Hall parking lot without comment. 

Never a good look…   

With Mr. Feacher seemingly dodging the issue, on Tuesday, WFTV’s Johnson contacted Sen. Tom Leek for his thoughts on the still unexplained purchases appearing on city P-cards. 

According to Sen. Leek, “Their CFO needs to come forward with receipts. Show us what these things are being spent on. Don’t just give us a report. Show us the receipts and what it was actually spent on,” said Leek.

We asked Leek if he thinks any of this could be criminal.

“I don’t know yet. You know a couple of years ago when this stuff first started to come out. It stunk. Today it smells rotten. So, I don’t think you can rule out criminal,” said Leek.”

Whoa.

According to the report, Sen. Leek said he would not rule out involvement by the state’s chief financial watchdog, Blaise Ingoglia…

Let’s hope, as Mr. Feacher has suggested, that there are adequate controls and oversight in place to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse – and sound explanations for the expenditures.  More important, now is the time for the city’s new internal auditor to prove his worth by restoring the public’s trust in the purchasing process.

Kudos to Commissioner Cantu for remaining vigilant. 

From her work uncovering asbestos contamination at a Beach Street building slated to be purchased by the city, to her efforts to find solutions to dangerous sidewalks in the Mosaic community, clearly Ms. Cantu takes her sworn duty as an elected representative seriously. 

In my view, Ms. Cantu’s watchfulness – and willingness to ask the tough questions when it matters – is paying big dividends for Daytona Beach taxpayers.    

Lowell L. Lohman, Requiescat in Pace

Last month, the Halifax area lost not only a titan of business, but an important philanthropic source of good. Someone who, despite personal health challenges, made our lives better by his extraordinary generosity. 

According to Mr. Lohman’s beautiful obituary, “The ultimate example of positivity and perseverance, Lowell Lohman taught us that living with Type 1 Diabetes does not have to be limiting. He rose to the daily challenge and regiment required with diabetes and lived a vibrant, adventurous life for 80 years.”  

As visionary entrepreneurs, Mr. Lohman and his wife Nancy owned multiple successful businesses, including Lohman Funeral Homes.  Most recently, the Lohman’s partnered with son Ty and his wife Tova in owning apartment complexes and the development of The Cupola luxury townhome community which has enhanced North Halifax Drive in Ormond Beach.

However, Mr. Lohman will best be remembered for his incredible generosity, the enormous scope and diversity of his impactful giving, and his true sense of care for our community. 

According to his obituary, “His giving resulted in the naming of the planetarium at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, MOAS, in Lowell’s and Nancy’s honor. Lowell often shared how fascinating and humbling it was to study the universe.  Lowell’s hope was their support of the planetarium would inspire others to keep learning. They sponsor the school field study program that continues to enable 6,000-10,000 5th and 8th graders in Volusia County Public Schools to attend a day at MOAS free of charge each year; an idea his best friend, Carl Persis, presented to Lowell several years ago.

Lowell’s generosity also included the support of the Halifax Humane Society Lohman Pet Adoption Center, the Halifax Health Lohman Diabetes Center and the Nancy & Lowell Lohman Art Center at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens.” 

Lowell Lohman’s life of dedicated service to others, both personally and professionally, has left an indelible mark on our community.  He left us better than he found us, and we join in mourning his passing at age eighty.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lohman.  We’re glad you passed our way…

Go DOGE Yourself…

With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis crowing to anyone who will listen about his incredibly risky ploy to eliminate property taxes in favor of funding essential governmental services by, well, who the hell knows? – local governments across the state are attempting to head off Gov. DeSantis’ attack dogs by “DOGE-ing” themselves…

For instance, last week, Daytona Beach City Manager Deric Feacher directed the city’s internal auditor to establish a Department of Government Efficiency using self-audit guidance from the state – a wise move – considering the mounting questions surrounding the city’s fiscal stewardship… 

According to an article by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, “The City of Ormond Beach will begin the process of “DOGE-ing” itself.”

“On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the Ormond Beach City Commission held a joint workshop with the city’s Budget Advisory Board to discuss the state’s Department of Government Efficiency framework to self-audit for efficiency. City staff walked the officials through where they believed they may find cost savings, such as the travel policy for staff and commissioners, memberships to various organizations, take-home vehicles, its bid platform and contract management. Based on previous discussions, the city will be focusing on reducing spending and streamlining operations.

The self-DOGE process was kickstarted by City Commissioner Travis Sargent, who presented the state’s guidelines to the commission during the recent budget discussions.”

I found that interesting.

Especially when you consider that during what passed for budget hearings earlier this year, City Attorney Randy Hayes told Ormond Beach taxpayers that a tax increase was imperative because “Sound fiscal management and responsible leadership require it.”

According to Hayes, commissioners were encouraged to vote for the increase due to “…financial risks and liabilities associated with the mayor’s (Jason Leslie’s) intention to seek deep reductions in the millage rate and the budget, and the uncertainties those reductions would have on the ability of the city to deliver quality services to residents.”

In fact, Commissioner (and current mayoral candidate) Lori Tolland – who, for dramatic effect, directed that Mr. Hayes’ handwringing missive be read aloud by the city clerk – openly accused Mayor Leslie of threatening Ormond Beach’s quality of life by even suggesting a tax cut.

Remember?  I do.

At the end of the day, Ormond’s “In-Crowd” got what they wanted – a substantial tax increase – with an annual budget now set at $142 million.  According to a September report in the Ormond Beach Observer, “From the 2020-2021 fiscal year to 2025-2026, the budget has increased by about 48%.”

In just five-years?

As a result, Ormond Beach residents are now asking the obvious: If city staff is just beginning to focus on spending reductions and streamlining operations, what have they been doing for the past five years?

Considering we are now being told there are “budget duplications,” frivolous memberships, throwing good money after bad for the asinine annual “State of the City” pep rally, redundant positions, ignored suggestions, etc., etc. – questionable expenditures that may represent unnecessary spending – why did our elected officials convince us any further budget reductions would result in financial Armageddon? 

In a recent editorial in the Observer this week, former Budget Advisory Board member Joe Hannoush, added to the concerns of chary taxpayers when he divulged:

“I am reminded that as a member of the Ormond Beach Budget Advisory Board for four budget cycles, I advised to reduce spending on several line items. The city’s budget has gone up significantly since then with none of my suggestions being implemented in any meaningful way I am aware of.”

What gives? 

Why were we blatantly lied to by those we have elected and appointed to represent our interests?

In my view, after the dumpster fire that was the 2025-26 Ormond Beach budget process – a turbulent time when Mayor Jason Leslie was publicly eviscerated for caving to the prevailing wisdom and ultimately supporting the tax increase – I think someone at City Hall has some explaining to do…

Although I have serious reservations about the motivations (and potential outcomes) of Gov. DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate property taxes, perhaps the difficult discussion – and the resultant self-audits and belt-tightening – is exactly what we need to curb overspending, reign in exorbitant executive salaries, limit Taj Mahal public facilities, and stop the clockwork annual tax increases that pay for it all.    

Quote of the Week

“Daytona Beach needs to quickly whittle its excess permits and license fees to $4.4 million or less to come into compliance with state law.

A $9.4 million proposal to build an addition to City Hall would drop the tally back into legal territory, but that project still doesn’t have a contractor, solid timeline or final City Commission approval. In March, three of the seven city commissioners voted against putting out a request for proposals to expand the 60,000-square-foot City Hall.

(Daytona Beach Mayor) Henry told the seven state representatives and seven senators on the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee that Daytona Beach “is fully committed” to coming into compliance with state law.

The mayor said Daytona Beach experienced a surge in new development over the past five years, so building permit fee revenue spiked and led to the accumulated money.

(State Sen. Jason) Brodeur asked the Daytona contingent what was being done with the roughly $500,000 in interest income that was being earned off the $10 million of unspent permitting fees. Morris said neither he nor anyone else in the group could immediately answer that question.

“You don’t know where $500,000 is?” Brodeur asked. “I hope on your four-hour drive home you realize this is getting serious.”

–Investigative Reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Florida legislators unleash frustration on Daytona city government leaders,” Tuesday, November 4, 2025

One fixed rule for public officials, especially at the local level, is either the elected body sets sound policy based on strategic planning, maintains oversight, and provides responsible stewardship of public funds – or someone else will make those decisions for them…

As Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, put it during last month’s meeting of Volusia’s legislative delegation in DeLand, “…when local governments do things that are “so out of whack,” then the “state’s going to step in.”

Last week, high-ranking officials from the City of Daytona Beach – to include Mayor Derrick Henry, City Manager Deric Feacher, Deputy City Manager Jim Morris, and Chief Building Official Glen Urquhart – were summoned to the lion’s den in Tallahassee for a thorough thrashing before the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.

The board, comprised of surly senators and representatives, demanded answers to why the municipal government has failed to follow statutory guidelines governing the accrual and expenditure of permits and licensing fees.

It was ugly.

And the legislators were right… 

There are legally established rules for how permit and licensing fees can be used – including set limits on how much of the unexpended balance can be carried forward.  According to reports, over the past four years, the City of Daytona Beach has maintained some $11 million in unspent fees collected during a period of explosive growth – far exceeding the statutory mandate. 

During the hearing, committee members openly questioned the delegation’s veracity, and panned the city’s spending plan, which appears (on its face) to be a hodge-podge of expensive nice-to-haves that Daytona Beach officials hope will comply with the state’s rules. 

According to the News-Journal, “The proposed projects included 17 pickup trucks that would cost close to $1 million, drones tallying $210,000, a $250,000 City Commission chambers upgrade and $250,000 for virtual desktop infrastructure.

Under budgeted items was about $4 million for land and facility acquisition; $3.1 million to renovate, furnish and equip a facility; $1.2 million for a mobile permitting center; $993,100 for a permits and licensing boat and boathouse; $660,000 for vehicles and equipment; and $400,000 for new permits and licensing staff.

Some of those projects came to fruition, but several did not. The mobile permitting center idea was dropped, as was the purchase of a Beach Street building that was to be used for permits and licensing staff.” 

The original plan included the ill-fated purchase of an antiquated building at 230 North Beach Street where officials planned to house the permits and licensing division.  However, that plan was abandoned when an investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (spurred by City Commissioner Stacy Cantu’s concerns) found deadly asbestos in the building.  

Now, it appears as if the City of Daytona Beach is unable to develop of viable plan for properly spending the permit and licensing fee balance, and the state is prepared to step in and ensure that the funds are returned to the developers who paid them… 

The political mauling at the Capitol didn’t sit well at home. 

At the November 5 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Ken Strickland punched back, saying “Tallahassee needs to mind their own business.  They should be representing us, not ridiculing us. I’m disgusted with our representation up there.”

In my view, the meeting took on the appearance of a passel of thieves squabbling over the loot when a representative of the Volusia Business and Industry Association – who would obviously prefer the excess fees be returned to developers – appeared at the hearing to gloat and tattle on the City of Deltona’s use of impact fees (?). 

The VBIA’s peripheral involvement in the state’s vicious gibbeting of Daytona Beach officials was obvious, excessive, and extremely telling – and, in my view, it stained the state’s haughty attempt to publicly correct (denigrate?) their local “colleagues.”

Unfortunately, city officials have no one to blame but themselves.   

During the scathing hearing, Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson rightfully admonished “A city with a vision would have created a plan…” 

In my view, that lack of vision – and a viable plan – isn’t limited to Daytona Beach, and continues to plague local governments across the width and breadth of Volusia County. 

During this period of unprecedented growth when strategic financial forecasting is imperative, it appears the City of Daytona Beach is about to become an expensive example of what happens to local governments who fail to establish a civic vision… 

And Another Thing!

Few things stimulate more interest on this blog than discussions regarding Volusia County District Schools. 

Perhaps it’s because we all have a personal stake in the success of our children’s education – or the importance of high performing schools to the social, civic, and economic development of our communities – or maybe it’s because we all pay for it, whether we have kids in school or not.

In my experience, a natural curiosity emerges when the disturbing things we see with our own eyes doesn’t comport with the pap and fluff that oozes from spinmeisters in public information offices, or the gloating of senior officials intent on creating a flattering picture, regardless of evidence to the contrary.

Last month, at the bitter end of the Volusia legislative delegation’s meeting in DeLand – that stilted annual spectacle when “We, The Little People” and our local representatives, have an opportunity to grovel before those we have sent to Tallahassee – saw another embarrassing example of how things work (or don’t) in the District’s Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand.

In an odd and unexpected turn, Dr. Gilbert Evans, who serves a conflicting role as both the District’s General Counsel and the School Board’s attorney, surprised the legislative delegation with an eleventh hour, half-baked, and incredibly expensive list of requests – some of which clearly had not been vetted or approved by our elected representatives on the Volusia County School Board…

Among other requests, Dr. Evans reminded our legislators that the state currently pays for 50% of costs associated with student transportation in Florida.   

Inexplicably, during his bizarre presentation, Dr. Evans – apparently serving as a lobbyist for all 67 school districts in the state (?), asked legislators to consider covering all school transportation costs – including funds required to “attract, hire, and maintain bus attendants” – as a means of relieving school districts from the burden of “diverting resources from instructional needs.” 

Say what?

In addition, Dr. Evans asked that, due to a shortage of licensed mental health counselors in schools, the state take action to allow unlicensed supervised interns to provide critical psychological services to Florida students and permitting that “on-the-job” training to count toward the requirements of licensure.

Really?

He also asked for “some kind of bill” that would permit cameras in classrooms “for non-verbal students for safety and accountability.” 

Whatever that means… 

To his credit, Sen. Tom Leek asked Evan’s the clear and unvarnished question everyone else in the room was thinking: “How much money do you need?” 

“How much money do you need today, if we give it to you, you say, “Okay we’re good?”

The mortifying silence that ensued (broken only by raucous guffaws from the audience) made it clear that, once again, Volusia County District Schools had failed to do their homework…

Eventually, Dr. Evans explained to a perplexed Sen. Leek that he “wasn’t expecting that question.” 

Making a point, Sen. Leek explained that the honest answer to his rhetorical question was – “There is no answer,” because enough is never enough…

In taking Dr. Evans to the woodshed, Sen. Leek directed that when Volusia County District Schools comes before the state legislative delegation asking for money, they should breakdown the request into a reasonable and logical explanation of need – especially one that represents a “monumental shift in policy and cost,” like funding all transportation costs for Florida students everywhere.

In turn, Sen. Leek asked Dr. Evans if Volusia County Schools is still requiring public employees to sign nondisclosure agreements regarding public business, and Evans responded they were “asking” – not “requiring” – some employees to sign NDA’s who serve in “sensitive areas.”

A testy exchange ensued with Sen. Leek asking Dr. Evans if he felt the practice of telling public employees to sign NDA’s to prevent them from discussing public business was wrong? 

Given Florida’s venerated commitment to government in the sunshine, it remains a serious public policy question that School Board member Donna Brosemer has been demanding answers to for months…

In holding the district’s party line, Evans replied, “No sir.”

Embarrassing.

The ugly scene was reminiscent of a similar debacle two-years ago this week when District Superintendent Carmen Balgobin sent the “B-Team” – consisting of a brand-new Interim Chief Operating Officer and a clueless Deputy Superintendent – to appear before the Volusia County Council seeking $350,000 to fund additional School Resource Deputies.

Like Dr. Evans’ half-assed “presentation,” the ask to the County Council was devoid of financial and operational specifics, and Balgobin’s conspicuous absence, coupled with the ham-handed way the district’s request was brought forth, left veteran elected officials shaking their heads in a fit of fremdschämen…

At the time, Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent, a school administrator himself, remarked, “It’s borderline disrespectful, in my opinion, to come hat in hand asking for money and not having your ducks in a row, with basic statistics ready to go.”

Obviously, the repetitive nature of these public gaffes proves our “Superintendent of the Year” Balgobin hasn’t yet learned the valuable lesson that preparedness, presentation, and professionalism are the keys to securing alternative funding…

Anything less is amateurish – and humiliating.

If the benefit of experience is hindsight, what do we call those who refuse to learn from their mistakes? 

In my view, that’s the textbook definition of a fool…

That said, what do we call the majority of our elected representatives on the School Board who continue to permit these embarrassing blunders from highly compensated senior administrators time, and time again?

That’s a disturbing point to ponder come election time…

That’s all for me.  Enjoy a great final weekend of the Volusia County Fair, y’all!