ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Still reeling from their 2022 surprise defeat, five of the seven Orange County commissioners gathered in a recreation center ballroom Thursday to air out their differences over a transportation tax – and see if there was an appetite for a third bite at the apple.
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Thursday to air out their differences over a transportation tax – and see if there was an appetite for a third bite at the apple.
“We all know we have a transportation problem,” Mayra Uribe (D3) said, holding up a picture of a man standing on a log. “We have not been able to balance this out.”
Uribe’s comment – and much of the sentiment – came from a realization that voters did not trust the county enough to support the one percent sales tax initiative that was originally proposed.
Despite promises of better roads, new bus and train routes and expanded bike paths, voters questioned whether the money would be spent wisely and who would be accountable for the program.
Uribe and Commissioner Nicole Wilson (D1) spent much of the meeting cordially discussing the different approaches their two districts would need. Wilson expressed a desire to preserve the environment and expand public transit options to the western parts of the county, while Uribe pointed out parts of the county with high voter turnout didn’t support transit.
Thursday’s meeting was an early step. There were no votes taken, no plans made and no firm commitment to pursue the tax, which would appear on the 2026 ballot.
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Signs of progress emerged as the meeting wound down. One of the big takeaways universally accepted by commissioners was the need to engage with more voters. The ones who turned out to the meetings in 2022 tended to be the same, loud voices commissioners are accustomed to hearing from, they said.
Mayor Jerry Demings stood up and motioned to Pedro Rodriguez, a young man who was one of the few non-staff audience members. He offered Rodriguez his seat at the table and the chance to close the discussion out.
“A larger portion [of people]… didn’t feel that the county could be trusted with the additional money,” he said.
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He told commissioners to pursue a smaller tax or a 10-year period of time instead of 20 – and own their promises.
Uribe – joking she didn’t tell him what to say – was supportive of his message.
“I think if we do a shorter time, we will earn that trust,” she said. “I know bonding isn’t black and white but it’s better than [nothing].”
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