ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings held a community town hall inside the Pavilion at Avalon Park on Thursday to discuss transportation needs.
A 2022 ballot initiative for a one-cent transportation tax failed to pass, but Demings is hopeful things will be different in 2024.
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“If we want to diversify our economy, we have to address all of the quality of life issues including those related to transit and housing. We cannot solve the housing challenges without also solving transportation challenges,’ Demings said.
The county estimates the one percent transportation tax would generate more than $750 million each year. The money would be divided among public transit entities such as Lynx and Sunrail, as well as local governments.
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“What has the county learned from the 2022 experience and what steps is it taking to make it more sustainable in the community? Now I live here, I voted for it, but this community, like most precincts did not vote for it,” said a resident.
Samara Jules-Robinson and Leo Alan Robinson founded Mentors for Fatherless Children and Abused Families. The two said low-income Orange County workers spend several hours daily commuting to and from work on public transit.
“It’s very discouraging for the youth, the parents and that are already struggling to make ends meet because of inflation, to then have car problems and to not have any other source of transportation,” said Samara Jules-Robinson.
If passed, the tax would go into effect on January 1, 2025.
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