Orange County’s plan to fund affordable housing with tourist taxes is dead – for now
Orange County appears to have lost a legislative fight to pay for affordable housing projects with its lucrative stream of tourist-tax money — a largesse that an opposing Central Florida lawmaker called “a convenient pot of gold.”
But future battles to loosen spending restrictions on the money are likely ahead.
Some advocates envision better outcomes on a tax plan that could have raised $56 million a year for affordable housing locally.
“Other counties are realizing flexibility would allow them to better serve their communities in ways we haven’t been able to do before,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, who offered a tax-bill amendment to let counties levy a 1% “tourist impact” surcharge on hotel-room rentals if voters approved. “Though it wasn’t successful in this first attempt, over time, I’m hoping, we can win over some people on this issue and have the Legislature provide that option for Orange County voters.”
An Orlando Democrat, Eskamani introduced the proposed rule change, which was recommended last summer by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ citizen-led, tourist-tax advisory board over objections of hoteliers.