ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando’s City Council met to discuss the new city budget Thursday.
While the proposed budget is increasing by 5 percent, the property tax rate will stay the same, and any increase in residents’ tax bills will come from property value increases, officials said.
“If their home values increased, they will see a potentially slight increase, but we are keeping the rate the same,” Orlando Deputy Chief Financial Officer Brian Battles said.
The council has been crafting the budget since December and this time around, there’s an estimated additional $24 million to plan.
Battles said the 5 percent bump in the city’s budget comes from a rise over the past year’s economic activity and property taxes.
“While revenues are higher than last year, our values are still lower than they were in the peak of the 2009 year, so we still are a growing city,” Battles said.
Commissioners will also consider a proposal to increase funding for police and fire departments. He said it will be used to fill positions and increase the presence at the airport.
Emphasis will also go toward city parks, housing, and community development.
It’s a list that includes enterprise funds, like waste water and solid waste
“Some of those area that you don’t think about in your everyday life, but all of us use every day,” said Battles. “We’re investing in that infrastructure to the tune of over $70 million in this year’s budget.”
Thursday’s budget hearing will start at 5 p.m. at the Orlando City Hall.
The second open meeting on the budget is set for Monday, Sept. 26.