Information
Orange County is one of the top travel destinations in the world with more than 59 million visitors a year and is fast approaching its pre-pandemic levels of 75 million annual visitors. Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT) – sometimes called the “bed tax” – is revenue generated by a 6-percent tax on hotel stays and other short-term rentals that are less than six months in duration. TDT collections were enacted by ordinance in 1978 following a successful voter referendum. The approval for counties to levy these taxes is authorized in Section 125.0104 of Florida Statutes.
Task Force Objective
Mayor Demings has empaneled a Citizen Advisory Task Force to review and provide input to the Board of County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council on potential uses of future, unallocated Tourist Development Tax revenues that meet current guidelines in Florida Statutes.
TDT Citizens Advisory Task Force Report
During Orange County’s regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the board voted to accept the report from the TDT Citizens Advisory Task Force. It is important to know that the acceptance of the report does not commit the board to implement, agree with or guarantee any of the task force’s recommendations. The board will continue to discuss the report during a work session at the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.