ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – For the first time in 17 years, Orange County leaders have approved an increase to the Fire & EMS property tax.
During a budget meeting on Thursday, commissioners passed the tax hike to help pay for 163 firefighters and four new fire stations.
The increase will add an estimated $150 per $250,000 of taxable value of single-family homes in unincorporated Orange County. Commercial properties will pay a higher rate and the tax hike is expected to bring in $69.1 million in revenue.
“It is extremely difficult to get politicians to vote for some kind of tax increase, but I sense that this board understood that we were potentially putting at risk the ability of our fire rescue department to operate effectively and take care of the people of Orange County,” Mayor Jerry Demings said.
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Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who took issue with how the vote happened, was the only vote against the tax increase.
“No one knew this was happening and what was most offensive was we didn’t know,” Uribe said.
There was no public input on the tax hike, which Uribe said was because there wasn’t advance notice that a vote was going to happen.
“How do you not tell the public? Transparency is No. 1,” Uribe said. “We always talk about wanting to build trust with the community. This is not what you do when you want to build trust.”
A county spokesperson pushed back on Uribe’s claim, however, issuing a statement to News 6.
“County staff begin meeting with commissioners in the spring to discuss funding concerns for the fire department and the potential scenarios to address the shortfall, including an increase in property taxes.
“Staff briefed Commissioner Uribe on the issue on March 25, 2024, and provided the commissioner with a more detailed briefing on July 2, 2024, one week before the budget work sessions.
“Two public hearings are planned on the proposed property tax increase. The first will be September 5, 2024, and the second will be September 19, 2024.
“In August, Orange County property owners will be notified by mail of the proposed property tax increase and the planned public hearings.
“The property tax increase will not be final until the Board of County Commissioners votes on the proposal at the end of the September 19 public hearing.”
Uribe said she supports bringing in additional revenue for fire and EMS, but wants the voices of those paying the bill to be heard.
While the change has already been approved, she believes there will be input from taxpayers at the next Board of County Commissioners meeting.
“The cause remains factual, very important,” Uribe said. “It’s not about the cause. It’s about the transparency, the openness and allowing people to know what’s happening.”
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