COUNTY COUNCIL TO EXPLORE ROADS SALES TAX; GAS TAX CUT – The Volusia County Council has given a conceptual nod of the head to a half-cent increase in the sales tax for roads, the money to be split between the county and the cities. In exchange the County Council would reduce the local option motor fuels tax by five pennies. The county staff will take the lead in working with the cities to put together the specifics of the initiative. A sales tax increase would require approval by voters in a countywide election.

MARTORANO NAMED ADMINISTRATOR OF HALIFAX HOSPITAL-PORT ORANGE -- Ann Martorano has been named administrator of Halifax Hospital-Port Orange, the new full-service facility to serve southeast Volusia that is scheduled to open in September, 2006. Since 2000 Martorano has served as executive director of Volusia Health Network (VHN) after nearly two decades in a variety of administrative positions at Halifax Medical Center. Martorano is a Stetson University graduate who has master’s degrees in communications and healthcare administration from the University of Central Florida and is a certified member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

ROOT BEGINS OFFICE COMPLEX -- Root Real Estate has begun construction of Lakeside North Executive Centre -- a two-building, multitenant professional office project on the east side of Clyde Morris Boulevard in Daytona Beach about 1,800 feet north of LPGA Boulevard. The project consists of two 16,000-square-foot single story buildings.

HEALTH SERVICES CAREER FAIR PLANNED -- The Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Workforce Development Board Center for Business Excellence are partnering to provide the area’s largest job fair dedicated to healthcare professionals. The Health Services Career Fair will be at the Holiday Inn, 350 E. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Tuesday, August 23, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. CEU/CME training sessions to area healthcare professionals also will be offered at the event. Area businesses interested in participating can call 386/681-2365.

SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER RATE OF GROWTH – At a joint meeting last week of the Volusia County School Board and the Volusia County Council, school officials said Volusia’s current rate of growth poses significant challenges to the public school system’s ability to provide school facilities. According to school system calculations, the single family home to new student ratio is .396. To put the issue into perspective, school officials said if all the projects at one recent city planning board are completed, they would generate 907 new students.

VOLUSIA COUNTY CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION SETS PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS -- The 15-member Volusia County Charter Review Commission wants to hear from the public before it begins to wade into an in-depth look into specific issues. The Charter Review Commission is composed of citizens appointed by the Volusia County Council to conduct the mandatory review of Volusia County Government’s Home Rule Charter and the county’s ordinances and structure. The public listening sessions will be: Wednesday, August 17, 6 p.m. – Thomas C. Kelly County Administration Center, first floor training rooms, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand; Monday, August 22, 7 p.m. – Deltona City Commission chambers, 2345 Providence Blvd., Deltona; Tuesday, August 23, 6 p.m. Votran Administration Center, 950 S. Big Tree Road, South Daytona; Monday, August 29, 6 p.m. – Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach; Wednesday, August 31, 6 p.m. – The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. All information pertaining to the work of the Charter Review Commission is available on Volusia County Government’s website volusia.org.

SEMINAR FOCUSES ON SELLING/MARKETING TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – The second of a five-part series on selling/marketing to the federal government continues Thursday, August 18, from 5:15-8:15 p.m. at the entrepreneurial center in Daytona Beach. This free seminar is part of the County Department of Economic Development’s outreach in partnership with the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAC) to bring more federal dollars to Volusia County. Please email Frank Germonto at fgermonto@co.volusia.fl.us or call 386/566-7695 for more information.

NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to: Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand. 32720-4612, by fax at 386/822-5072 or by e-mail at dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us