Push underway for Orange County to use tourism tax dollars for issues other than tourism

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Millions of Orange County tourist tax dollars are up for grabs, but only a small list of things can get the money despite the area’s needs.

Many people have been pushing for other uses of the dollars not linked to the tourism industry.

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Since the 1970s, the 6 percent tax on hotel stays has funded renovations and upgrades to the biggest drivers of tourism in Orange County. But conversations by an advisory task force questioned whether the money could be better spent.

“We have other tourism destinations that are applying the funds in ways that benefit the community,” said Dr. Kelly Semrad, a UCF associate professor of tourism and hospitality management.

Read: Orange County Convention Center expansion tops list of projects contending for $330M in funds

Semrad said she thinks Orange County’s hotel taxes do need to be invested in immediate tourism infrastructure. But she points to other counties in Florida that have also found other uses for the funds.

“If you look in South Florida, you see that they’ve used funds to restore their beaches after hurricanes and to bring sand in when it’s been lost,” she said. “If you look at Fort Walton Beach, you see that they’ve been able to apply things in terms of lifeguards and police.”

Read: Dr. Phillips Center hopes to receive $145 million from Orange County tourist development tax

Semrad said she believes taxes from Orange County’s $75 billion industry could fund things like public transit or even address affordable housing, but that would mean getting Tallahassee to make a change.

County attorneys say right now Orange County doesn’t clear a state benchmark that would allow them to spend the money on transit. But state statute does allow for things like beach, channel, or lake improvements.

Read: Orange County leaders look to dish out millions of tourist development tax dollars

Another thing coming out of the task force is a recommendation that Orange County lobbies the state for a change in how they could utilize tourism tax dollars. That change would allow for a separate tourism tax to apply in Orange County and be used to fund affordable housing. Commissioners will get the final say on that and which projects will get funded.

VIDEO: Orange County Convention Center expansion tops list of projects contending for $330M in funds Orange County Convention Center expansion tops list of projects contending for $330M in funds

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