[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6455871,"mediaKeyId","5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f","parentId",5717536,"title","Public commenters urge more housing and services, question use of tourism and detention funds","audioSeconds",1234,"startMs",1667000,"endMs",2901000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f&start=1667&end=2901","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f/thumbnail_1667000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455871/Orange-County/Florida/Public-commenters-urge-more-housing-and-services-question-use-of-tourism-and-detention-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455871-b179e17fbe4cb12571dda7ca274cd9b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773085192&Signature=Kn-RX45fJqAUukz4pgU~YHSV1bNLs3NWgVLhSGEUjmt95cwuCxAZ7InhxmgCDS4us3T0JzVDdBTZjmDs8qHyNIxEMPTZ0kK9o0Z-baqCXnNwzzvV3QESOdDJeEe50IzvETICNgjbG50uKJY6tyIb4mS4xHhSKTdmfV0acjpczl8fm67WNN1hvPoSufMcj0V3bRKmGZzAP1QlJM480Q~mCeie4KC9qs8VIwMvwggTD5Ajm5DTVWDXrIGVetYOedHKd5D9p0HJ6QpQHxZ8SOQGRLQmb-GyCBbuGMv3awGQd6TdYLTCpMtbJmTeS4rJB4iLL9CNwxSeERM4wTM20M52uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Orange County","date","2025-09-04T20:22:01Z","article","During the Sept. 4 first public hearing on Orange County’s tentative budget, nine speakers addressed the board on homelessness, the use of tourist development tax revenue, funding for immigration detention, community services and a specific special assessment notice.

Dr. Jim Moyer, who identified himself as an elected supervisor for Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2, asked the board for support for the district’s 80th anniversary and noted the district seeks partnerships and donations to sustain programming in schools.

Kathleen Fitzgerald, of Support Orlando Shelters, urged county collaboration with the City of Orlando on feasibility and renovation for supportive housing, including the Caley Street Work Release Center, and said tourism is a low‑paying industry whose workers need help. Fitzgerald cited a figure read earlier by county staff and said the county’s visitor population has a large daily impact on services.

Multiple speakers pressed the board to prioritize affordable housing, food security and direct services over funding for immigration detention and related programs. Linda Coffin said state actions force local spending on detention and urged reallocating those dollars to housing, food and education. Jennifer Hall said the county will spend $2.3 million to house federal immigration detainees but questioned reimbursement and called for those funds to support community needs; county staff responded during the hearing that reimbursement negotiations were ongoing.

Other public commenters asked for changes to how tourist development taxes are used to support maintenance and transit, thanked the board for park and recreation funding, and asked staff to clarify a special assessment on Lake Hourglass that appeared on one resident’s proposed tax notice. Carmen Whitney asked why her notice showed a prior approved Lake Hourglass special assessment amount plus a $400 environmental service charge; staff offered to review her individual bill after the hearing.

Speakers representing community organizations included Erica Gomez Tejeda from Hope Community Center, who asked the board to invest in legal services, food programs and citizenship courses; and Bonnie McCarron, who described personal experience with housing instability and asked for compassion and coordinated services. Frank Vassell discussed the relationship between wages, taxation and funding priorities.

No formal board action was taken during public comment; the comments were entered into the record for the budget process ahead of the Sept. 18 second hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Orange County Board of County Commissioners First Budget Public Hearing | September 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Nine residents and representatives spoke during the county budget public hearing, urging increased spending on homelessness and housing, changes to tourist development tax use, legal services for immigrants, and raising questions about a local lake special assessment.","taxTitle","Orange County, Florida","taxId",2866,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455876,"Orange County sets tentative millages and adopts $8.32 billion tentative budget",1736,1230000,2966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f&start=1230&end=2966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","/articles/6455876/Orange-County/Florida/Orange-County-sets-tentative-millages-and-adopts-832-billion-tentative-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455876-89e298a1b7adc6c6b5984672d5b4e8d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773085192&Signature=WapP-UNkFfIge-R7qU21bx~dsl5jbE2nYTe-O~OWqpYTOkU8TKp63e0tAMwWIg-y1f6IrLcd2o1QLlUehRHET7delij90eXQmNXV4rRpV6enppGyQAzD~VBtpgDnhAcPU6w~2BAhItxvkxvXbg0hV15nxzuGVtBvy-3qb3c7yVXeeJd~xZK6DsAz454phRFJ-tT1mVRWoIZKS2ssop2SDu5uUqh~MiINdZ7MBDXw5d~OHifDtP8z9SqrNLK65KDh4hC9kZn340VtPzne3dEeMCNE~scv1zPvInH9nWrRnlg32BhxrOUc4cUW72v1FN7GKS2CFrwiWBf57ZvDeeptCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 unanimously approved tentative millage rates for multiple districts and adopted a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $8,318,172,170.

Kirk Peterson, director of the Office of Management and Budget, read the proposed millage rates and the percentage change from each rollback rate. He said the countywide rollback rate was 4.2068 mills and the proposed countywide millage was 4.4347 mills, a 5.42% increase over the rollback rate. Peterson also read proposed rates for a series of municipal service taxing units and neighborhood improvement districts; he reported an aggregate proposed millage of 6.9547 mills versus an aggregate rollback of 6.773 mills, a 2.68% increase.

County administrators and the mayor framed the budget around growth-driven revenues and service needs. County Administrator Byron Brooks said the tentative budget reflects a balanced plan with updated revenues and expenditure reductions discussed during July work sessions. Mayor Demings noted the county’s rapid population and tourism growth and highlighted investments the budget makes in public safety, housing, homelessness and transportation.

Key allocations cited in presentations and staff remarks include:

- More than $1.2 billion proposed for public safety, including Orange County Fire Rescue, the sheriff’s office and corrections; staff said public safety funding has increased on average 9.8% since 2022 and represents a $445 million total increase since that year.

- $17.7 million allocated for affordable housing in fiscal year 2026 from the county housing trust fund, part of a stated 10‑year commitment of $160 million.

- An annual homelessness services commitment of more than $56 million after a $10 million increase in the 2025 budget; staff described this as part of work to meet state-mandated homeless reduction requirements.

- Transportation investments including nearly $24 million for continued safety and efficiency upgrades in 2026, $6 million for expedited LYNX bus routes and $3 million for additional bus shelters. Staff said Orange County now funds about $15 million annually toward SunRail operating and capital costs.

Peterson reported the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget total of $8,318,172,170, a 2.6% decrease from the modified current-year budget. The board adopted the millage resolution on a motion by Commissioner Wilson with a second by Commissioner Simrad, and later adopted the budget resolution on a motion by Commissioner Uribe with a second by Commissioner Wilson; both actions passed unanimously by voice vote.

The board scheduled a second and final public hearing on the budget for Thursday, Sept. 18, at 5:01 p.m.","The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 approved tentative millage rates and a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget totaling about $8.318 billion; the budget allocates more than $1.2 billion to public safety and includes further funding for housing, homelessness, and transportation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455880,"Orange County adopts non‑ad valorem assessment roll under Florida statute",91,642000,733000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f&start=642&end=733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f/thumbnail_642000.jpg","/articles/6455880/Orange-County/Florida/Orange-County-adopts-nonad-valorem-assessment-roll-under-Florida-statute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455880-5b71dd659aa76ebce6e9bcb13688bd2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773085192&Signature=duqTsCSjuQPOSv0hldW~w3F38DNjCq6iJ~w-8b2eWBXnneorRCKa-8kHVIyFvIUpvnyGPiodv7-Bus4Yoi9lOViZyQScSQluZhCO2KbK8e~yfmmfYVbzz8mP9vgiO0OlgICtHc5ZuyTRsj8moA710BHand-AEXaWwC8vEu99KlBUnMg8g1Q~jO8vyyT3B9CKffVsWvs3MNcYznzEPI4cxfEHlvaqcScQVoqf2fc-wdjWiMzsY29dKT9x5PKdW0DqSKXPLTticGERXxBoJSU3RF8AWc8sdKfSl1ulEYIeC9goxxL2jEZwBU7q-KKtwCCkgDpAJZgj1mSS8vCrJ7-eLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 unanimously adopted the non‑ad valorem assessment roll and authorized the tax collector to use the uniform method of levy, collection and enforcement, as provided by state law.

Curt Peterson, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told the board that the hearing considered adoption of “the non‑ad valorem assessment rule authorizing the tax collector to use the uniform method of collection of non‑ad valorem assessments levied by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners as provided in section 197.3632 of the Florida Statutes.” He said property owners had been given the right to file written objections and to appear and testify at the public hearing.

No members of the public spoke on the assessment roll. The board approved the assessment roll on a motion by Commissioner Gomez Cordero and a second by Commissioner Simrad; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

The approval enables the county to proceed with levy and collection under the uniform method described in state law for assessments being levied for the first time.","The board unanimously adopted the county's non‑ad valorem assessment roll and authorized use of the uniform method of collection under Florida Statute 197.3632.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455885,"Orange County adopts $400 mandatory refuse assessment, expands hauler zones",137,350000,487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f&start=350&end=487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717536-1c72f030bf16d8af4dd4e90335c3be0f/thumbnail_350000.jpg","/articles/6455885/Orange-County/Florida/Orange-County-adopts-400-mandatory-refuse-assessment-expands-hauler-zones","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455885-fb1ce9ec2f9a376bc81210645448cf24/orig.mp4?Expires=1773085192&Signature=j4wwNvs7dd2g2N4Lhj1XUZskJWS7C6u1ItVGqO6InR4yr3MDArC8t8F5mQTWvZN6fT-qTepYcSeZ4V2E42rjQDbSPDV~ygV6OaKQc8dQ0omsD5-Q40EfRKgVLK6U-kFeiYAApe99KIee1r1~U0ANQCFKO5ATFECc4Wgva7cliscXfoJK0i0j-J~eE~4dFpxFKzHGUBhomuR-PXs3u1eaTEP7H6DWMFnbgp22z1g56O5sIHgH6dIEsCfWQevzSUF0F24P7NdxE0XZFb87mGd74HGBrK5WntN21aBQ8feoKOb97BEWt58EI3lbntLnLk8MWmuDOvIJU5Ee~r7APkOukw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 unanimously adopted a $400 annual mandatory assessment for county garbage and recycling collection and approved a new hauler compensation schedule and geographic service zones that take effect with hauler contracts starting in January 2026.

David Gregory, manager of the solid waste division, told the board that “Chapter 32 of the Orange County code requires that the board of county commissioners pass a resolution annually setting the mandatory garbage and recycling rate” and that the board had tentatively set a $400 customer rate in June — $100 higher than the current year — to reflect rates in competitively procured hauler agreements approved by the board on Nov. 19, 2024. Gregory said the county divided service into six geographic zones for the new agreements, replacing the prior five-zone structure to reduce households per zone and “facilitate better service to the customers.”

The board approved the resolution on a voice vote after a motion by Commissioner Wilson and a second by Commissioner Uribe. The vote was recorded as unanimous.

Staff also presented recommendations on exemptions to the mandatory assessment. Gregory said the board had been given a booklet listing three sections of recommendations: previously granted exemptions reviewed and recommended again by staff; staff-investigated new requests (of which there were none this year); and appeals reviewed by the hearing officer. Chloe Berryman, the hearing officer, reviewed appeals and recommended approval; Gregory said no appeals were heard this year. The board approved the staff and hearing officer recommendations on a motion by Commissioner Uribe and a second by Commissioner Wilson; that vote was unanimous.

No members of the public spoke during the mandatory refuse public hearing. Staff told the board that property owners had been notified in advance and that the hauler compensation rates were listed in the resolution.

The board adjourned the mandatory refuse hearing after the votes.","The Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a $400 annual mandatory garbage and recycling assessment and a new hauler compensation schedule for 2026, and approved staff and hearing officer exemptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters urge more housing and services, question use of tourism and detention funds

Orange County sets tentative millages and adopts $8.32 billion tentative budget

Orange County adopts non‑ad valorem assessment roll under Florida statute

Orange County adopts $400 mandatory refuse assessment, expands hauler zones