Orange Mayor Jerry Demings proposed Thursday spending more than $800 million of the county’s tourist-tax largesse on an array of local projects, endorsing ideas advanced by a county task force but also reviving a rejected plan from the University of Central Florida to build a pair of sports facilities.
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Demings outlined his plan this week in a memo to the Board of County Commissioners, which gives about half the Tourist Development Tax money, $400 million, to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a massive expansion. However, his proposal trims the Center’s initial $750 million ask, with other groups also taking much smaller haircuts as well.
“As a result of those adjustments, I am pleased to announce that we can fund all 12 projects recommended by the Task Force, plus a portion of the UCF request,” the memo reads. “I believe the 13 projects and programs included in this proposal would be transformational for our community, bringing TDT revenue to all parts of Orange County, expanding our arts and cultural offerings, sports and conference facilities, and creating ecotourism grant programs.”
[Dmings declined to endorse either of the most dramatic snubs from the task force, the latest in a series of convention center expansions, and a Major League Baseball stadium pitched by the Dreamers group.
Ultimately, the Board of County Commissioners has the final say on which, if any, of the projects move ahead. A work session to discuss the plan is scheduled for Oct. 19.
The funding comes from the 6% tax levied on hotel room nights and short-term rental stays in Orange County – a pool of money likely to surpass $400 million this year, although much of that total is already allocated. The county has an ample pot of uncommitted funds in coming years, however, in part because of the rapid growth of the revenue stream. State law restricts how money can be spent, limiting its uses to tourism marketing and to facilities and programming that attract more tourism.
However, the task force urged county leaders to more aggressively lobby state politicians to loosen those spending restrictions, allowing money to be used on other local needs like transportation and housing. Both leading candidates for governor have said they’d be open to such changes.
In the memo, Demings notes several commissioners were interested in funding UCF – which received TDT for the first time three years ago to build a bigger Roth Tower at the Acrisure Bounce House. The tower opened in time for its football season this year, and hosted county leaders in August at a celebration of its completion.
In the past few weeks, the university distributed a revision of the proposal the task force rejected to at least some County Commissioners. In emails, the University pitched a $46 million plan – less than half as expensive as its initial concept – to build a renovated and expanded soccer stadium, as well as a new Track & Field Complex.
The school initially asked for $119 million, which would have included the two facilities, as well as $51 million in technology and infrastructure for its football stadium and a $24.2 million softball stadium.
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“As the process has moved forward, we have listened carefully to the feedback we received and proactively refined our proposal to focus on a project that presents a clear and compelling opportunity to expand Orange County’s sports tourism infrastructure, attract new events and visitors to East Orange County, and generate long-term economic benefits for the region,” a UCF spokesperson said in a statement.
The school’s original proposal was among the lowest ranked by the citizen’s task force convened this summer to review two dozen proposals submitted for funding.
Commissioner Kelly Semrad, whose east Orange district includes UCF, said she doesn’t believe the new proposal from the university should be considered because not all groups were given the same opportunity to change their pitch, and the new proposal won’t receive the same scrutiny from the task force that others did.
“We either have a process or we don’t,” she said. “We all support the hometown university, but we either allow the taxpayers to tell us what to do with their money, or we tell them we know better.”
But Commissioner Mayra Uribe expressed support for Demings’ plan — saying she appreciated that cities and towns like Eatonville, Ocoee and Winter Garden were included as opposed to “the usual players.” She said she believes new facilities at UCF could help lure amateur and youth competitions to the county — and she’s confident those facilities will be swiftly built.
“I’m actually happy that UCF got included, and I’m happy that the Dr. Phillips Center got a decent share,” she said.
Kathy Ramberger, the CEO of the Dr. Phillips Center, said the arts center’s inclusion “reflects the important role arts, culture and entertainment play in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and enriching the experiences that make Orange County an exceptional place to visit and live.”
Demings’ memo also notes some commissioners were interested in funding a new expansion for Orange County Convention Center, but the mayor said he believes the construction currently underway should be completed before any more TDT is allocated to the enormous building.
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The full funding proposal outlined in the memo is:
- Orange County Application Review Committee Grant program: $75 million between 2029 and 2033
- Orange County Natural Resource Tourism Infrastructure Grant Program: $50 million over 10 years starting in 2028.
- Orange County Eco-tourism Grant Program: $50 million over 10 years starting in 2028
- Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs: increasing from 5% of the first four cents to 6% starting in 2027, or an increase of about $3 million annually
- Dr. Phillips Charities Eatonville Museum of Culture and History: $60 million beginning in 2027
- Creative City Project’s Immerse Fetival: $12.5 million total, with $4.75 million coming from its existing Blockbuster Grant and $7.75 million from future TDT revenue
- 8 Waves I am Children’s Museum: $25 million beginning in 2027
- Orange Audubon Natural History Museum at Apopka Birding Park: $12 million beginning in 2027
- Florida Citrus Sports Parking Structure: $52.5 million beginning in 2028
- City of Ocoee Forest Lake Golf Club and Conference Campus: $30 million beginning in 2028
- Town of Eatonville CRA, Eatonville Heritage Tourism District: $20 million beginning in 2028
- UCF Soccer Stadium and Track Facility: $46 million beginning in 2029
- Dr. Phillips Center For the Performing Arts Master Plan: $400 million bonded by the City of Orlando