ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County groups pitched new funding requests Tuesday for the county’s Tourist Development Tax, setting up a high-stakes debate over how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars collected from visitors.
A citizens advisory task force will ultimately recommend to Orange County commissioners how the money should be allocated.
The task force’s meeting drew a packed room as members began hearing requests from organizations seeking Tourist Development Tax dollars. Six groups presented proposals Tuesday, with asks ranging from $5 million a year to a revolving $25 million fund aimed at helping the county land major events.
Vicki Landon, administrator for Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs, urged a major investment in arts-related 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, asked the task force to support $5 million a year for his department’s request.
“Our request for the task force is for $5 million per year,” Marshal said.
The Tourist Development Tax — the county’s 6% “bed tax” on hotels and short-term rentals — can only be used for purposes tied to tourism. But some residents and task force members said the biggest shares often flow to the same 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.