Orange County Residents CALL TO ACTION!

The transportation issues in our county are no secret. Orange County has experienced consistent population growth for the last decade resulting in backed-up roads and a regrettable amount of sprawl. Public transit has lagged behind while new highways and toll roads have sprouted up. While some of this can be attributed to new business opportunities and a robust free market, it is a clear lack of governmental regulation that has played a role in where we are today.

Since 2012, developers in Orange County have had to pay only 56% of adopted transportation impact fees. Considering this new adoption was following the recession of 2008, it could be excused in the eyes of the Board and the swath of citizens who wanted to see Orange County continue to grow. But it is not 2008 anymore. While the economy has been strained throughout this pandemic, developers have now had a 9+ year windfall of paying a discounted transportation impact fee rate. The money our County has lost would have directly contributed to roads and indirectly, transportation issues. It is time developers in Orange County start paying their fair share.

How can you help? On August 24th, the Board of County Commissioners will vote on how to proceed with raising transportation impact fees. A demonstrated needs study by County staff will an exception to Governor Desantis’ preemption of raising local fees and the Board will have two options to debate:

• Continue a discounted rate for transportation impact fees at 75% in one increment.
  (to be implemented Dec. 2021)
• Charge full rate (100%) on transportation impact fees in one increment.
  (to be implemented Dec. 2021)

We need community leaders and citizens to show up and make their voices heard.

We need the money that has been filling developers’ pockets for the last 9 years to go towards roads. Over $9 million dollars of fees are at stake over the next year if the 75% route is taken.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
1) Look over the Staff Transportation Impact Fee Presentation Outline below. Here is a link to the entire 16 pages Demonstrated Needs Study.

2) take our survey, and

3) contact the Board of County Commissioners at their email addresses: district1@ocfl.net, district2@ocfl.net, district3@ocfl.net, district4@ocfl.net, district5@ocfl.net, district6@ocfl.net, mayor@ocfl.net!

Hope to see you on August 24th!