ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – This week, the Orange County Board of Commissioners will decide whether to move forward with a government infrastructure surtax on the November ballot but not before reviewing feedback from voters.
The special meeting is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at the Orange County Administration Center.
This isn’t the first time county leaders have explored a surtax. A previous effort backed by Mayor Jerry Demings failed at the ballot box. Now, commissioners will see if timing — and focus — could make the difference.
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“Timing is going to be everything,” Demings said ahead of the meeting.
Back in January, commissioners debated whether it was the right moment to revisit the idea after past proposals did not gain voter approval. But Commissioner Nicole Wilson emphasized this proposal would not be a repeat of previous attempts.
“It’s very different when we’re talking about quality of life investments,” Wilson said.
If approved for the ballot the infrastructure surtax could support:
- Land acquisition for environmentally sensitive areas
- Land acquisition for affordable housing
- Parks, trails, and outdoor recreation
- Stormwater and water quality improvements
- Transportation infrastructure
- Facilities
Before making their decision, commissioners will review research from a recent survey done by an organization that gauged how residents feel about the proposed tax.
When we spoke with some voters after the meeting in January, public opinion was mixed.
“I think that we do desperately have a need to improve our infrastructure or mass transit in Orange County because we are growing every single year,” said Matthew, a local resident.
“They have taken so much money out of taxpayers. Every time it’s something different — transportation, buses, or anything else they dream about,” said Trini, another resident.
The special meeting begins at 1 p.m. Monday at the Orange County Administration Center.