Orange’s tourist taxes in October worst since 9/11 attacks
Tourist tax collections, critical to government operations in Orange County, were lower this October than they’ve been in any October since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack, Comptroller Phil Diamond reported Monday.
“On the positive side, this is the sixth straight month of increases [in collections] since we hit rock bottom in April,” he said.
The county pulled in $7.7 million in October from the 6% levy on short-term lodging rentals, mostly hotel rooms. While the total was up about 10% from September collections, it was about $17 million behind October 2019.
Despite a good start, fiscal year 2019-20 ended Sept. 30 with collections at $167.3 million, off $116.6 million from 2018-19.
Diamond said the region’s tourism-based economy would benefit from a COVID vaccine, which could be on the horizon.
“There finally seems to be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel,” he said during a press briefing Monday.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who signed an executive order Friday to impose fines on businesses which don’t heed safety protocols, said the county’s compliance teams did not visit businesses over the weekend but will resume doing so on Tuesday.
He said they spent Monday putting together “a game plan” to follow for issuing non-compliance citations and fines.
“Let’s just hope the... bad actors shape up and take measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Demings said.
Demings’ order requires social distancing of six feet or more where possible. It also requires business owners to enforce a mask mandate for employees and patrons and encourages businesses to reduce on-site employees by allowing work-from-home options.
Penalties include fines of $500 as an immediate citation. A judge or special magistrate could impose steeper fines of $1,000 per day or, for repeat offenders, up to $5,000 per day. If the damage is deemed irreparable, a magistrate can impose fines of up to $15,000.
Demings said fines may be necessary because some businesses ignore rules intended to keep the community safe.
“Some of those businesses have been re-inspected multiple times. We’re not going to wipe the slate clean as if they had not been out of compliance,” the mayor said. “Our ultimate goal is to gain voluntary compliance without having to penalize a business.”
During the briefing, reporters asked about Winter Park High School possibly planning to have homecoming activities the week of Jan. 19, with festivities tentatively including a parade in downtown Winter Park and a dance, according to an email from the school’s principal.
Orange County’s top health official said he would advise against that.
“My general opinion and advice is no large gatherings for anyone, especially in January,” said Dr. Raul Pino.
Scott Howat, spokesman for Orange County Public Schools, said all district high schools are exploring ways to safely hold some traditional activities, particularly for seniors. The schools are working with student government to figure out how to best host events like homecoming, which were canceled in the fall.
But no school will hold events without approval from health advisors and district administrators, Howat added.
“It’s important for our students to know that’s being worked through, and they feel valued through that process,” he said.
Winter Park Principal Matthew Arnold, in his Friday email, said the school felt confident it could host some activities, like dress-up days, and perhaps crown a homecoming king and queen at half time during a varsity soccer game.
The email said a parade down Park Avenue and a dance were “tentative” and depended on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state, city and the school district.
shudak@orlandosentinel.com
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