Orange County transportation sales tax increase will not be on November ballot

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to suspend a transportation sales tax initiative that would have moved forward a vote for a referendum on this year’s ballot.

Mayor Jerry Demings motioned to suspend the initiative until 2026. The move came after some of the commissioners implied they would note vote to move it forward during Tuesday’s work session.

Commissioners needed to make a decision on the rate and duration of the tax if they wanted to move it forward for a vote during a public meeting on April 23.

During the April 23 meeting, the commissioners would have voted whether to place a referendum on this year’s ballot.

“In order to have the meaningful dialogue and have an appropriate vote, and the buy-in that we need going forward to not have failure at the ballot box – I just don’t think we can get there,” the mayor said.

The sales tax would have funded “specific Orange County transit and transportation infrastructure needs to increase safety, mobility and connectivity,” according to the county’s website.

A presentation given to the commissioners presented possible options of a 1/2 cent or 1 cent sales tax increase.

Improvements included “county roadways and intersections,” “improving traffic signal technology,” “expanding LYNX bus service and SunRail commuter rail service,” “improving pedestrian safety,” and more.

Commissioner Emily Bonilla says she “can’t trust” the county on a sales tax when the commission is making “bad development decisions that’s gonna break Orange County.”

“I will be so supportive of this and 2026 and work with all of you trying to get there, but we need to fix some things along the way before we could get this on the ballot, because we are going to need funding, but we have so many issues right now that we need to fix…” Bonilla said.

Commissioner Mayra Uribe said she was asked by a resident to vote “no” and was also asked why they can’t use funding from elsewhere.

“I know at my committee meeting, somebody said, ‘why don’t we use TDT [Tourist Development Tax revenue]?'” Uribe said.

“I think these are perfect strategies of things that we should be discussing before we tell residents ‘pony up more money,’ we should have exhausted everything possible…” Uribe continued.

Uribe said she cannot support it for the ballot and they should look at “every other way possible” to help with funding.

Commissioner Michael Scott said there “doesn’t seem to be an appetite to move forward today” and noted some of his colleagues have “some challenges.”

During public comment, commissioners heard from speakers both for and against the tax.

“Because of today’s economy, the way it is, that money, which I’m sure it’s probably going to be in the millions, could be better spent in other areas of the community, rather than putting sidewalks into a place where they’re not needed,” one speaker said.

Another speaker said he supports the tax and wants to “help the working people” in the community.

“The rich, the well-to-do, get whatever they want, whenever they want it, but when it comes to the working people in this community, and the poor people in this community, we don’t have time for them, it seems. So I would urge you, please, and I support this tax,” the man said.

The county previously conducted a survey in 2022 which revealed residents feel “traffic congestion” is the biggest challenge relating to transportation.