ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County organizations made their case Tuesday for a share of the county’s Tourist Development Tax revenue, launching what is expected to be a closely watched discussion over how hundreds of millions of visitor-generated dollars should be spent.
A citizens advisory task force is reviewing the proposals and will later make recommendations to Orange County commissioners on how the tourism tax money should be distributed.
The meeting drew a standing-room crowd as task force members began listening to funding pitches from groups seeking Tourist Development Tax support. Six organizations presented Tuesday, with requests ranging from $5 million annually to a revolving $25 million fund designed to help Orange County compete for major events.
Among those making a pitch was Vicki Landon, administrator for Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs, who called for a significant commitment to arts and cultural capital projects.
“That investment of 75 million to 100 million dollars for the Tourist Development Tax application review committee grant program (would) fund 15 to 20 million in capital projects per year over a five-year period,” Landon said.
Alan Marshal, an environmental policy coordinator with the county’s Planning, Environmental and Development Services Department, also asked the task force to back his department’s proposal.
“Our request for the task force is for $5 million per year,” Marshal said.
Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax, a 6% “bed tax” collected from hotels and short-term rentals, is restricted to tourism-related uses. Still, several residents and task force members raised concerns that the largest portions of the revenue have historically gone to the same major destinations.
Task force member Doug Gomber said return on investment often drives the discussion, particularly which projects can deliver “heads in beds.”
“Those cultural people like the Philharmonic, Orlando Shakes, Wonderland of Ballet — those should be funded. Definitely,” Gomber said. “But are they putting as much heads in beds? No, that’s what the Civic Center, Camping World Stadium and all of them do.”
In recent years, the largest shares of Tourist Development Tax money have consistently gone to the Orange County Convention Center, Visit Orlando, and arts and sports grant programs.
Some task force members said state law limits what the county can do with the money and argued the rules should be changed in Tallahassee.
“I think we’d be having a whole different conversation if the law would allow us to do that,” Gomber said.
About 20 applicants are expected to go before the task force.
Brent Nelson, with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, told the panel the region is competing for bigger events that come with higher costs.
“Orlando is leveling up. We’ve been recognized as the No. 1 city in America for sports events, and those new opportunities come with higher price tags,” Nelson said.
