Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is putting his tourist tax brain trust back together, calling on residents and industry leaders to help decide how to spend a rapidly ballooning pile of visitor dollars. With tourist development tax revenue and reserves now in the hundreds of millions, county leaders see both an opportunity to bankroll big-ticket projects and a chance to stash more cash for the next tourism downturn. Demings said the reconstituted panel will feature new faces, and he stressed that any ideas still have to fit within state law.
In a letter to county officials, Demings wrote that he will reconvene the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force and asked Comptroller Phil Diamond to help hire an independent consultant from outside Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He said he is confident that citizen input can help chart the best course for investing TDT funds and that the group’s ideas will still be bound by state limits. The letter also lays out a timeline for the task force’s work and its public meetings.
Where the money stands
Orange County is on pace for about $400 million in TDT collections this fiscal year. The comptroller’s April report shows roughly $258.2 million brought in over the first seven months of FY2026 and total reserve accounts of about $422.6 million as of April 30, 2026. That reserve pot includes a Renewal & Replacement Reserve and an "Other Authorized Uses" reserve, with county records pegging the latter at $122.6 million. The comptroller’s report is the latest routine snapshot county leaders look at when they weigh new commitments, according to the Orange County Comptroller.
What the law allows
Florida law tightly limits what tourist development tax dollars can be used for, steering spending toward tourism marketing, convention center projects, and upgrades to sports and arts facilities while blocking most efforts to use the money for things like affordable housing or public transit. The Local Option Tourist Development Act outlines the authorized uses and compliance rules for counties that collect the tax. The statutory language is detailed in Florida Statutes 125.0104.
Who will sit on the panel
Demings said the task force will bring together representatives from the hospitality industry and regional business groups, including seats for the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, the Orlando Economic Partnership and major players such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, along with organized labor, veterans, and chambers that represent International Drive, LGBTQ+, and multicultural business owners, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The mayor’s memo highlights a desire for a broad mix of voices and community representation while reminding members that their proposals must fit within state law. Officials say new members will be appointed before the panel’s upcoming meetings.
What's already committed
County records show that of the $122.6 million in the "Other Authorized Uses" reserve, about $78 million is already spoken for through past approvals and bids. The comptroller’s cash reserve summary lists $42.3 million committed for Applicant Review Committee capital grants, $20.5 million for NBA All-Star Week bid fees and event costs, and $15.2 million for fees and expenses tied to a 2028 international Olympic qualifier series. Those obligations significantly shrink the share of truly unallocated money the task force will be able to steer toward new ideas, according to the Orange County Comptroller.
Why it matters
The fight over how to use the cash will shape the county’s priorities for tourism marketing and major venue investments, and it will determine how much stays parked in reserves as a hedge against the tourism industry’s boom-and-bust cycles. The stakes are heightened by recent scrutiny: last year, the comptroller’s audit found that Visit Orlando had misclassified more than $11 million in TDT funds, triggering an amended contract and tighter controls, as reported by Central Florida Public Media. That episode has fueled calls at the county level to pair ambitious projects with a healthy dose of caution.
Next steps and public comment
The task force is slated to meet four times starting July 21 and is expected to wrap up roughly two weeks later, delivering a final report to the Tourism Development Council and county commissioners. County staff say residents will have chances to speak at those meetings and can also email feedback to the mayor’s office through the contact listed on Orange County. Officials emphasize that the task force’s recommendations will be advisory only and must still align with Florida law before commissioners make final spending decisions.
