Orlando commissioner raises home-rule, property-tax and short-term rental concerns at state legislative session

During the Jan. 26 Orlando City Council meeting, Commissioner Ortiz addressed the council about state-level legislation that she said could affect municipal home rule, property-tax exemptions and local budget stability.

Ortiz cautioned that changes to property-tax exemptions promoted at the state level could shift costs to cities, noting the council’s fiscal constraints and that public safety (police and fire) consumes a large share of the city’s budget. “Right now just to pay for police officers and firefighters is about 51 percent of our budget,” Ortiz said in the meeting record, and she stated that revenue from property taxes comprises roughly 48 percent of the city’s revenue. Ortiz warned that reducing local property-tax authority could force cities to raise other taxes or centralize decision-making in Tallahassee.

Ortiz also raised impending state proposals to regulate short-term rentals and to require registration of rental units with municipalities; she urged colleagues to track these changes and referenced resources at the Florida League of Cities. Ortiz asked council members to consider the potential impacts on residents and tourism, saying increased local sales taxes could affect household costs and visitorship.