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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orange County's tourist tax take was good, not great in April
Orange County's tourist tax collections were better in April than a year ago, but not as good as the year before that. The revenue generated by the county's 6% surcharge on overnight hotel stays and other short-term lodging has been a reliable measure of tourist industry health, but Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the collections, interpreted the new figures cautiously. 'It's interesting to me that even though we're in the midst of what looks to be a very good year — and we just had a very good month — we didn't beat a number from two years ago when everything was less expensive and hotel rooms cost less,' Diamond said. April 2025 collections were slightly weaker at $33.1 million than those in both April 2023 ($33.6 million) and April 2022 ($34.6 million). Epic Universe: Know before you go Still, revenue from the Tourist Development Tax, or TDT, through the first seven months of fiscal year 2025 has totaled $235.6 million, about $11.3 million ahead of the pace of last fiscal year when TDT raked in a best-ever haul of $359 million. Diamond expressed concern about slowing international travel and global economic uncertainty, but also noted bright spots. 'I really want to see more Epic results,' he said, referring to Universal's heralded new theme park, Epic Universe. 'I will say I'm pleasantly surprised at the visitation level we've had before the new park even opened. That was a surprise to me and probably other people as well.' The immersive park officially opened to big crowds May 22 eager to see attractions built around training dragons, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo video games and Dracula, Frankenstein and other celluloid creeps and monsters from the movies. Tourism figures from May will be revealed in early July. 'I'll miss visiting my American friends': Angered by Trump's threats, Canadians rethink Florida travel Visit Orlando also offered a somewhat mixed outlook for summer travel in an emailed response about the latest numbers. Hotel bookings from May through July are currently pacing 1% behind the same time period last year, but the short-term rental market is showing 'robust growth' with bookings 15% ahead of last year, said Casandra Matej, CEO of the region's tourism marketing agency. She said the average daily room rate was $223.44 in April, driven largely by a surge in leisure travel. The rate was $208.50 in April 2024. shudak@
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In Florida property tax debate, use a ‘scalpel' not a ‘chainsaw,' officials argue
Property taxes are necessary to fund local governments and agencies but can be unfair to first-time homebuyers, a group of local Democrats argued Tuesday. Six elected officials gathered Tuesday at a roundtable hosted by Rep. Anna Eskamani as debate continues across Florida on if and how to reform property taxes – which are top funders for everything from local police and fire departments to public schools. 'Instead of taking a chainsaw, I think it's important we use a scalpel,' said Eskamani, D-Orlando, who sits on a 37-member task force studying the issue. The push for property tax relief started when Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier this year that Florida should ban the tax, assessed by local governments on property owners. He'd equated paying the tax as 'renting your property from the government.' House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, convened a task force to study the issue, which is expected to consider numerous ideas, ranging from outright abolishing the levy, adding homestead exemptions to lower tax bills and requiring every municipality to hold their own referendum on whether or not to ban it. DeSantis and others have argued that local governments have benefited from surging property values – even as most haven't increased their tax rate. With a bigger pool of taxable value, the money has poured in, with Orange County's budget growing by $1.7 billion over a five-year period, fueled in part by about a 40% increase in property tax collections in that same period. Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said that the state's tax structure is designed to keep costs low for longtime Floridians, and in turn, hits first-time homebuyers with higher costs. 'If you're an existing homeowner who has owned a home for 7 or 8 years, you don't need a property tax break,' he said. 'If Florida wants to attract young people, young professionals …they've got to fix this problem.' But cities and counties, particularly in Central Florida, are grappling with growth. And growth requires infrastructure, law enforcement, fire protection and new schools to accommodate it. Property tax revenue is a critical funding source for local governments accounting for about 52% of the Orange County public schools budget and about 48% of Orlando's general fund. A study by the Florida Policy Institute found that state leaders would need to double its sales tax to 12% to make up a chunk of the revenue lost from banning the tax. After its publication, DeSantis said he'd veto any such increase. Sadaf Knight, the CEO of the Florida Policy Institute, said any tax relief should be targeted. 'I think whatever the solution is to make sure the tax relief is getting to the people who need it most,' she said. rygillespie@
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Proposed fireworks law seeks to defuse explosive neighborhood clash
A pesky neighbor whose explosive barrage plagues homeowners in Waterfront Estates is propelling a tougher Orange County fireworks ordinance that could ease tensions — and kabooms — around the region. County commissioners discussed the revamped rules at their meeting Tuesday. Discontent in the working class neighborhood near Little Lake Conway has been simmering for more than a year but boiled over in September when a disquieted group of residents appeared before commissioners to plead for help. Though they had repeatedly called the Sheriff's Office, residents said responding deputies informed them no enforcement action could be taken unless an officer personally witnessed the infraction. The proposed rule change would drop that requirement and treat illegal use of fireworks as a code violation rather than a crime. If an investigating office found probable cause of a violation — say a video or audio recording from a home-security system — a written warning or a citation could be issued to the alleged offender along with a directive to 'cease and desist' in a reasonable time. Assistant County Attorney Joy Carmichael, who presented a draft of the new rules to commissioners, defined a reasonable time to mean 'within five minutes or immediately.' A first offense would carry a $200 fine and a second offense a $400 fine. Each subsequent violation would carry a fine of $500 and mandate the alleged offender to appear in court, she said. Florida law allows fireworks 'solely and exclusively' on three holidays — New Year's Eve, New Years Day and July 4th. Commissioner Mayra Uribe, whose district includes Waterfront Estates, said she has heard the unnerving blasts in the neighborhood. She described the explosions as 'random —9 o'clock in the morning, 3 in the afternoon — whenever he wants,' When drought-like conditions this spring prompted Orange County and other Central Florida governments to impose burn bans to prevent a stray ember from touching off a dangerous wildfire, the fireworks stopped. 'We were all like, 'Hallelujah,' ' Uribe said. But then it rained, the ban was lifted and the fireworks resumed. Central Florida faces growing fire threat with deepening drought Residents also allege the neighbor erected phallic objects on a fence at his home to annoy them. Though neighbors have identified him, the Orlando Sentinel is not naming him because he has not been charged or cited. The man could not be reached by phone for this story. Jill Sharga, among neighbors who have appealed to commissioners for help, considers the revamped rules to be 'good news.' She previously appeared before the board with a calendar festooned with cartoon bombs, each marking a day she'd heard an explosion. 'I am very happy it's going in the right direction,' she said in a text after Tuesday's commission meeting. 'We would not need a sheriff's deputy to personally observe the guy lighting a match to blow up his bombs.' shudak@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 Florida beaches land on Dr. Beach's top 10 list for 2025
Two of Florida's Gulf Coast beaches have been recognized among the top 10 beaches in America, according to an annual ranking from Dr. Beach. The 2025 list includes Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples at spot number four and St. Andrews State Park in Panama City at spot number seven. Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York, took the top spot in this year's annual ranking that Dr. Stephen Leatherman has been compiling since 1991. The Florida International University professor considers 50 factors when selecting the nation's best beaches each year. Some of the criteria are beach material (fine sand ranks highest), air and water temperature, number of sunny days, wildlife, litter and development. Hawaii's beaches took four of the top 10 spots on the list, which also honored stretches of sand in South Carolina, Massachusetts and one other New York beach. Since 2016, Florida beaches have landed at the top of the list three times including St. George Island State Park in the Panhandle in 2023. The 2020 winner was Grayton Beach State Park while Siesta Beach on Siesta Key was named number one in 2017. These top beaches were removed from contention for this year's title after winning previously. Caladesi Island State Park came in number four last year but was taken out of consideration for this year's list; the beach is still closed amid ongoing recovery efforts following 2024's tumultuous hurricane season. Delnor-Wiggins Pass ranked number eight on last year's list and moved up four spots for 2025. 'This barrier island beach boasts of beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear Gulf waters,' Leatherman writes on his website. 'Activities include swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, shelling, and fishing. Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. Pine trees provide welcome shade.' As for St. Andrews State Park, which has Leatherman notes that 'This strikingly white sandy beach is great for shelling and bird watching. Swimming and snorkeling are popular in both the Gulf of America and St. Andrews Bay on the other side.' Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida Main Beach, East Hampton, New York Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina St. Andrews State Park, Panama City, Florida Kaunaoa, Big Island, Hawaii Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@ Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SeaWorld: Aquatica water park springing into Aloha to Summer event
Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando's water park, is gearing up its springtime event named Aloha to Summer Celebration. The programming will include sand-castle artists, family-friendly dance party, games such as cornhole and ring toss (with prizes), all preceded by a welcome celebration with leis and tropical punch. Aloha to Summer eats will include limited-time island-inspired options such as teriyaki pineapple burgers and ponzu pork dumplings. There's also a new Tex-Mex men at the water park's Kookaburra Kitchen plus tropical sweets such as Hawaiian crumble Dippin' Dots. Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin The festivities, included with regular Aquatica admission, will be available Saturdays and Sundays between March 29 and May 11. The park's usual array of slides, lazy rivers and splash areas also will be in operation. Once Aloha to Summer wraps up, Aquatica will saw hello to AquaGlow, its after-hours, neon-driven, separately ticketed event. For more information, go to Email me at dbevil@ BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at Legoland Florida plans new roller coaster for 2026
