Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and the Board of County Commissioners have proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25, encompassing the period beginning October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 reflects the County's commitment to "Building a Better Orange County Together". Orange County’s most essential and largest single revenue source in this budget is property taxes, which are up 7.8%. A second public hearing for the FY 2024-2025 budget was held on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Some of the highlights of the budget include:
Affordable Housing:
Orange County has allocated $16.1 million for the FY 2024-2025 budget, bringing the total investment in affordable and workforce housing to $83.8 million over six years and a commitment of more than $160 million over ten years.
Homeless Services:
Orange County intends to expand services to people experiencing homelessness by adding $10 million to the budget for a total of $56 million for prevention/diversion, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and outreach.
Protection of Natural Habitats:
In the 2021-22 annual budget the Board approved $100 million for the preservation of Orange County’s natural habitats. Since then, more than 1,760 acres have been added to the County’s existing 24,000 acres of preserved lands. Fourteen properties are open to the public for nature-based recreation. Orange County will continue to use the $100 million to preserve environmentally sensitive lands for the protection of natural resources.
Transportation:
Orange County continues to invest in transportation solutions and improvements with the $100 million Accelerated Transportation Safety Program for safety projects related to pedestrian, bicycle, and motorist safety, including transit enhancements. The five-year budget plan includes $55 million for roadway lighting, sidewalks, transportation, and public safety and $45 million for transit improvements.
Fire Rescue:
Orange County proposes to raise the Fire & EMS millage (tax rate) from 2.2437 to 2.8437 mills, a 0.6 mill increase, which would bring in approximately $69.1 million in additional revenue. This would be the first increase in the County’s Fire MSTU millage rate in 34 years. The millage rate has decreased several times over those 34 years. The demand for services has increased for all communities within Orange County, and the cost of services for equipment, supplies, advanced technology, and personnel has risen substantially over the years.