Discussion of potential property tax increase dominates Orange County Commission meeting

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Homeowners in Orange County could be seeing a property tax increase to pay for an independent board focused on services for children.

If it passes, voters in November would decide if a property tax increase should be spent on this independent commission.

People fired up about neglect and abuse, health care and after-school programs for more than 200,000 children pushed Orange County Commission chambers over capacity Tuesday morning.

The Children’s Services Commission would focus on providing those sorts of services, if approved.

Most who showed up to the meeting were supporters of the proposal.

"There are a lot of kids that come from disadvantaged and impoverished communities, that don't necessarily have a chance to be as successful," said Ja'Keevious Mack, a senior at Edgewater High School.

Mack said The Boys and Girls Club saved him from a life of trouble and hopelessness. He believes the trust would hep others.

He said his older brother didn't have the same resources he had.

"Which ultimately led to him being murdered and left on the side of the road," said Mack.

“They are real children. Real human beings who need our help. They need our revenues. They need our rescue,” said Dick Batchelor, chairman of the Children’s Trust.

The Children’s Trust is the group pushing for the proposal. At a press conference Monday, the group cited information in a University of Central Florida study showing gaps exist in services for children.

If approved, the property tax increase would bring in $58 million in new revenue for child services for a year—which translates into an average $8-$9 a month increase in their property taxes.

But not everyone agrees forming a commission is the best way to do it.

"The concern that I have and my administration has shared is that we're putting people who aren't elected in charge of tax dollars,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Jacobs said that right now, there isn’t a defined-enough plan in place.

"When we do have to go to the public and ask for more taxes, we owe it to them to tell them what they're going to get. I can't do that today,” she said.

Cox Media Group