DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County officials are raising alarms over a Republican-backed budget proposal in the U.S. Senate that would eliminate all funding for State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs, funding the county relies on to protect its shoreline, promote tourism, and ensure public safety at the beach.
The Volusia County Council is set to discuss the potential impacts of the proposed cuts during its regular meeting on Tuesday, including whether to sign on to a formal letter opposing the elimination of CZM funds.
Environmental advocates and county officials say the proposed cuts could have widespread effects across Florida’s coastal communities, including:
- Reduced protection of critical habitats for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and nesting birds
- Elimination of uniform beach warning flag systems and rip current safety alerts
- Loss of funding for the Florida Coastal Access Guide, which promotes tourism and water access
- Delays to infrastructure repairs and long-term coastal resilience projects
Mia Catalina, a Volusia County resident whose son works for NOAA, said she’s worried about how the proposed budget will impact both the environment and local life.
“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “People don’t realize how many of these programs are federally funded. They’re going to find out pretty soon if this bill passes.”
Catalina added that many parts of the beach are still damaged from recent hurricanes and require federal support to maintain.
Others, like resident Sven Abramson, say they’re open to reallocation if the funds are used for other essential services.
“If the money’s going toward helping children with cancer or the homeless, I don’t see that as such a loss,” Abramson said.
The Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association has urged its member counties to oppose the CZM cuts, and the Volusia County Coastal Division is now requesting the council’s permission to co-sign a letter sent by the Coastal States Organization — a national coalition working to preserve shoreline funding.
District 2 Council Member Matt Reinhart, whose district includes much of the Daytona Beach shoreline, released a statement to News 6 saying he is reviewing the proposal and understands how vital these programs are to the community.
Volusia County leaders have until June 6 to formally respond and join the growing number of coastal states opposing the budget provision.
The County Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the county council chambers in DeLand. A copy of the full agenda, including the coastal funding item (Item J), is available on the county website.