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Downtown Orlando Project Discussion


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Its just really sad that people care about a half cent here or there in order to improve the quality of life in this city and state. Sure lots of tax money gets wasted on things, but they also help improve the community, and Americans are so anti-taxes it disgusts me. They want to drive on the roads, use the schools, and call the police and fire departments but dont want to give more money to help improve any of them. But they will be the first to whine and complain about how things need to improve. Sorry, my anti-Republican sentiments have been growing inside me for a few weeks... Politics gotta love em..

Yea, I agree with Dale. They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else. Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up. Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol :thumbsup: (in a joking manner)

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Yea, I agree with Dale. They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else. Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up. Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol :thumbsup: (in a joking manner)

And go Gators ! :)

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Yea, I agree with Dale. They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else. Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up. Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol :thumbsup: (in a joking manner)

Well, its mainly ideas that republicans have put in place that have led to this misuse of money, especially the federal money that we get for transportation. Catagorical Grants and Block Grants, all ideas proposed by Republicans which gives tax money for anything or for nothing...Basicaly you can use the money for whatever you want in a block grant, and catagorical grants you get money for roads but you have to fit a specific catagory... There is no grey area, typical of republican politics. In turn that just hurts us. I also find it hard to believe that you have anti-Democrat sentiment, because they havent been able to do anything in office for years. I prefer socialism so attack them both at will, it won't affect me any, just try to do it in traffic on your way to the voter booth.

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Now...back to the topic at hand...I agree that more taxes to help fix our roads are not the answer, but a re-allocation of taxes. I'd hate to quote a not so popular local figure, but the tourism industry DOES keep their "grubby little fingers" all over the tourist tax. That's ONE tax that is blatantly unfairly allocated.

I think gas tax should pay for roads. People that don't drive don't necessarily need roads.

I thought a lot of the tourist tax pays to keep tourists coming here. Advertising, roads in the tourist corridor, etc. It seems like a waste of money to keep doing this, but without it, the tourist industry might falter. Now, I say MIGHT and that is why we keep putting the money right back where it came. Just in case.

With that said, I would like to see more of the tourist tax go back to some residents. Museums would be nice and that would also bring more tourists anyway and in effect recoup the investment. Considering we have a History Museum, maybe we could have a citrus museum. j/k

Building more roads for locals probably won't happen.

New arena?? I doubt it. How many people fly to Orlando to catch the Magic? I'd say somewhere in the neighborhood of 0. Sampling margin of error +/- 1.

Open question to all:

Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

Edited by bulldogger
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I think gas tax should pay for roads. People that don't drive don't necessarily need roads.

I thought a lot of the tourist tax pays to keep tourists coming here. Advertising, roads in the tourist corridor, etc. It seems like a waste of money to keep doing this, but without it, the tourist industry might falter. Now, I say MIGHT and that is why we keep putting the money right back where it came. Just in case.

With that said, I would like to see more of the tourist tax go back to some residents. Museums would be nice and that would also bring more tourists anyway and in effect recoup the investment. Considering we have a History Museum, maybe we could have a citrus museum. j/k

Building more roads for locals probably won't happen.

New arena?? I doubt it. How many people fly to Orlando to catch the Magic? I'd say somewhere in the neighborhood of 0. Sampling margin of error +/- 1.

Open question to all:

Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

There are only certain places the tourist tax can go (with the way the law is written now). It can't go for education, or for Homeland security. I've been to quite a few Magic games over the years & I have to say that the NBA does draw some of our International tourists. I don't believe they come to see the Magic, but they will come downtown to see Lebron, Kobe, Shaq, or possibly their favorite player from home.

A new arena would not just be for basketball but hopefully for other sports and venues. You don't think tourists would come downtown to see U2 or Coldplay? I certainly do.

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I see this little snipet on the next Orlando City Council agenda. I remember the press when the OSCAR trolley car was purchased. It was supposed to be the prototype for a new commuter system downtown. Ahhh, how loudly some dreams are born and how quietly those same dreams sometimes die...

Subject:

Approving the authorization to proceed with the Sale of Oscar Trolley Car

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:

In 1990 the CRA purchased a trolley car in anticipation of it being used as part of a downtown transportation circulator. The trolley was one of the three alternatives analyzed when studying the options for the downtown circulator system. The rubber tired bus alternative was ultimately chosen, which is now the Lymmo transit circulator. This trolley has been in storage since 1991 at an annual cost of $3,300, until January of 2005 when it was moved into a City of Orlando storage facility. Staff has received recent interest in purchase of the trolley. Staff is seeking authorization to sell the trolley car and initiate the process for sale consistent with procedures determined by the Purchasing Office, CRA staff and the Office of Legal Affairs.

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Open question to all:

Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

It should go to promote the city, and keep the tourist area nice, and most of all, keep people coming here. The tourists should not foot the bill for problems created by careless leaders, and they should not have to pay for things that the locals don't want to.

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It should go to promote the city, and keep the tourist area nice, and most of all, keep people coming here. The tourists should not foot the bill for problems created by careless leaders, and they should not have to pay for things that the locals don't want to.

It should promote the city, but not just to prospective tourists. It should also, promote the city with regards to bringing in higher-paying businesses, and that means improving quality of life for their prospective employees. Orange County is not the only county to have a tourist tax, but it is about the only county that puts that tax solely in control of the tourist industry. By law the tax can be used for more than just upkeep of tourist areas but unlike other Florida counties that use their tourist tax to benefit ALL the citizens, Orange has ceeded too much control to the industry.

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It should promote the city, but not just to prospective tourists. It should also, promote the city with regards to bringing in higher-paying businesses, and that means improving quality of life for their prospective employees. Orange County is not the only county to have a tourist tax, but it is about the only county that puts that tax solely in control of the tourist industry. By law the tax can be used for more than just upkeep of tourist areas but unlike other Florida counties that use their tourist tax to benefit ALL the citizens, Orange has ceeded too much control to the industry.

Perhaps the the county should be "zoned"

The tourist tax revenue from the attractions area should stay in the attractions area.....the tourist taxes from downtown can stay downtown....the tourist taxes from the airport area can stay in the airport area.

By doing this, the downtown revenue can support things that will in turn benefit the downtown hotels, and downtown overall (arena and whatnot). The attractions revenue can be used to benefit the attractions area...and so on.

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Perhaps the the county should be "zoned"

The tourist tax revenue from the attractions area should stay in the attractions area.....the tourist taxes from downtown can stay downtown....the tourist taxes from the airport area can stay in the airport area.

By doing this, the downtown revenue can support things that will in turn benefit the downtown hotels, and downtown overall (arena and whatnot). The attractions revenue can be used to benefit the attractions area...and so on.

And yet by fragmenting revenue it significantly limits its use. Further, what about areas that provide no discernable tax base whatsoever like Parramore? Should we just give up on it all together?

Edited by prahaboheme
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And yet by fragmenting revenue it significantly limits its use. Further, what about areas that provide no discernable tax base whatsoever like Parramore? Should we just give up on it all together?

again...why should the tourists be paying for OUR problems....when we are not willing to pay for them?

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again...why should the tourists be paying for OUR problems....when we are not willing to pay for them?

Why shouldn't they? They create many of our problems like a disproportionate amount of low-income jobs, overcrowded roads (not just around the hotels but accross the area). I could go on and on.

What do you mean we are not willing to pay for them? How much did the convention center cost? How much does widening I-4 cost? How much of our tax dollars goes to pay for law enforcement in the tourist areas? The tourist tax doesn't pay that. I could go on and on.

The high-tech industries, like the simulation industry, bring in higher-paying jobs, and the subsequent taxes of those employees are currently used to offset lower-paid workers (typically service and hospitality industries). Lower paid employees appropriately don't pay as much taxes so I think it is appropriate for the tourists make up the difference (not the rest of us tax-payers). And if the tourist tax laws prevent using funds for many of these things then at least use some of the money to lure the companies (and employees) that can proportionately pay their share of expenses.

That's why it's in the law! That's what every other Florida area that has a tourist tax does. What make Orange County different? I'll tell you what. Because the county has given control of these funds to the industry (unlike the rest of the state who keeps control with the elected officials).

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Why shouldn't they? They create many of our problems like a disproportionate amount of low-income jobs, overcrowded roads (not just around the hotels but accross the area). I could go on and on.

The tourists do not create the low-income jobs.....the employers of facilities that serve tourists do...perhaps these facilities should pay impact fees.

As for tourists clogging the roads....perhaps a tax on rental cars would work. But why should South Orange county, where the VAST majority of tourists spend their time, subsidise north Orange County.....home of "Ax the Tax"?

What do you mean we are not willing to pay for them? How much did the convention center cost? How much does widening I-4 cost? How much of our tax dollars goes to pay for law enforcement in the tourist areas? The tourist tax doesn't pay that. I could go on and on.

How much county money went to pay for the Convention Center?...NONE...it was entirely funded by the tourist tax. Again....why don't we zone the county, and each part of the county can keep its fair share.

The high-tech industries, like the simulation industry, bring in higher-paying jobs, and the subsequent taxes of those employees are currently used to offset lower-paid workers (typically service and hospitality industries). Lower paid employees appropriately don't pay as much taxes so I think it is appropriate for the tourists make up the difference (not the rest of us tax-payers). And if the tourist tax laws prevent using funds for many of these things then at least use some of the money to lure the companies (and employees) that can proportionately pay their share of expenses.

That's why it's in the law! That's what every other Florida area that has a tourist tax does. What make Orange County different? I'll tell you what. Because the county has given control of these funds to the industry (unlike the rest of the state who keeps control with the elected officials).

Again....why should tourists pay for our issues? They are not commiting the vast majority of crimes.....their kids are not crowding the schools, and they are NOT the problem.

And how would our officials manage these taxes better....it is not like they have done a great job managing sprawl...or much anything else.

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TV 13 said earlier that Osceola is asking Expressway Auth. to build a loop around Lake Toho connecting to 417.

Are you sure they didn't say "to" Lake Toho and not around it? Lake Toho is 12 miles long and there's not much around it besides Kissimmee on the north end. No offense to anyone living in a shack on the south side of the lake.

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The tourists do not create the low-income jobs.....the employers of facilities that serve tourists do...perhaps these facilities should pay impact fees.

As for tourists clogging the roads....perhaps a tax on rental cars would work. But why should South Orange county, where the VAST majority of tourists spend their time, subsidise north Orange County.....home of "Ax the Tax"?

How much county money went to pay for the Convention Center?...NONE...it was entirely funded by the tourist tax. Again....why don't we zone the county, and each part of the county can keep its fair share.

Again....why should tourists pay for our issues? They are not commiting the vast majority of crimes.....their kids are not crowding the schools, and they are NOT the problem.

And how would our officials manage these taxes better....it is not like they have done a great job managing sprawl...or much anything else.

Tourists do clog the roads, not just in south Orange, but all over Central Florida. Tourists may be commiting crimes, as several of them go unsolved. The tourist section also seems to have a much heavier police presence than say east Orange county. Are you so sure you want the residents in south Orange to pay a tax for police to protect tourists?

Actually millions of county dollars went to pay for the Convention Center. That money could have been spent on something for the county like a new arena, stadium, performing arts center, or light rail.

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Are you sure they didn't say "to" Lake Toho and not around it? Lake Toho is 12 miles long and there's not much around it besides Kissimmee on the north end. No offense to anyone living in a shack on the south side of the lake.

My understanding is that there had been some talk of the Expressway Authority building a spur of 417 from around the airport area, that would proceed around -- as in, to the east of -- East Lake Toho, connecting into 192 around St. Cloud.

I hadn't heard of any additional discussion regarding it lately, though. :huh:

expwy_plan-2025.jpg

Edited by i_cre8
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My understanding is that there had been some talk of the Expressway Authority building a spur of 417 from around the airport area, that would proceed around -- as in, to the east of -- East Lake Toho, connecting into 192 around St. Cloud.

I hadn't heard of any additional discussion regarding it lately, though. :huh:

That's sounds reasonable. I could see people from St. Cloud wanting to hop straight onto the 417 and not have to drive west to Kissimmee/BVL to go back east again.

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That's sounds reasonable. I could see people from St. Cloud wanting to hop straight onto the 417 and not have to drive west to Kissimmee/BVL to go back east again.

I think that ultimately their hope was to even extend that spur all the way to 95 around Melbourne, thus providing an express route into the area from the southeast. Or, at least I think that's what Brevard was requesting.

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Actually millions of county dollars went to pay for the Convention Center. That money could have been spent on something for the county like a new arena, stadium, performing arts center, or light rail.

show your source.......I have seen nothing to state this.....

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That's sounds reasonable. I could see people from St. Cloud wanting to hop straight onto the 417 and not have to drive west to Kissimmee/BVL to go back east again.

Actually people from St. Cloud do go straight to 417. They take Narcoossee road north to 417 (south of the airport. The map showing the extension east of East Lake Tohopatalaga (Toho) is basic right on top of Narcoossee Rd.

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