9 Investigates potential use of tourism tax funds for arts, sports

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates reporter Karla Ray has been going over a plan to spend even more tax money to complete the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

A proposal by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs would allocate $45 million from tourist development tax to start construction on Phase II of the project, Steinmetz Hall.

The memo from Mayor Jacobs states “without a commitment of additional funding, there will be significant construction cost increases and the potential loss of crucial private funding.”

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The change would require a vote by the Board of County Commissioners and would bring the total amount of County TDT funding on the project to $207 million.

That funding is from money collected during hotel stays in Orange County. Mayor Jacobs also wants to change the way sporting events are lured to Orange County, by using money from that same fund.

Instead of renewing a $150,000 annual contract with the Central Florida Sports Commission, Jacobs suggested using $5 million in TDT funding to create a “sports bid fund” under the umbrella of Visit Orlando.

Both changes would require an amendment to the city-county Venues Agreement, and a vote by Orlando City Council.

In a statement, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the plan, “Will further our shared vision to drive the success of the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium and the Dr. Phillips Center while ensuring Orange County remains a leading tourist destination."

Jacobs also pointed out the need to be prudent with TDT funds due to the potential threat of Zika and world events on Central Florida’s tourism industry.

Jacobs also wrote about a plan for the County to retain all TDT revenues and be responsible to pay the City of Orlando’s portion of future projects, as well.

The proposals will be discussed at an upcoming meeting.

Kathy Ramsberger from the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts said in a statement Friday:

“We are so grateful for Mayor Jacobs’s commitment of support today, as well as her recognition of the Dr. Phillips Center as a source of Orlando pride. Since 2007 with the first community venues approval, she has been steadfast in her desire to help us achieve the vision of the arts center to be a successful performance venue and a gathering place for everyone. We are equally grateful to know that Mayor Dyer shares her point-of-view, as well as to the tourism community for their continued support of the project. We look forward to the TDT meeting later this month. Our leadership, our board and all of our donors and members are so pleased by the hope and now, real possibility, that we will see the completion of the community’s art center very soon.”

Cox Media Group