Orange County mayor Jerry Demings and commissioners back a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars during a meeting in downtown Orlando, Monday, October 19, 2026. Protestors gathered outside the commission chambers to argue for a slowdown on the community project funding. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Joel Dominguez, a community canvaser for Unite Here Local 737, holds up a sign as Ella Wood, the Political Director for the union, delivers remarks during a protest outside Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, center, arrives on the dais in the Orange County Commission chambers, with commissioners Mike Scott and Nicole Wilson, in downtown Orlando, Monday, October 19, 2026. Commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orange County mayoral candidate Tiffany Moore Russell delivers remarks during a protest outside Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Former Orange County mayor Linda Chapin greets supporters inside the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orange County mayor Jerry Demings talks to staff in the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer greets supporters inside the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orange County mayor Jerry Demings, left, arrives on the dais in the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A packed Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Former Orange County mayor Linda Chapin greets supporters inside the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida House Rep. Johanna López delivers remarks during a protest outside Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer addresses former Orange County mayor Linda Chapin in Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer listens to the proceedings at the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida president Alexander Cartwright, right, greets supporters inside the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Former Orange County mayor Linda Chapin listens to former commissioner Christine Moore, right, inside the Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Eatonville mayor Ruthi Critton addresses the Orange County Commission in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Ella Wood, the Political Director for Unite Here Local 737, delivers remarks during a protest outside Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
On overflow crowd from the packed Orange County Commission chambers watch the proceedings on CCTV in the lobby of the administration building in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
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Joel Dominguez, a community canvaser for Unite Here Local 737, holds up a sign as Ella Wood, the Political Director for the union, delivers remarks during a protest outside Orange County Commission chambers in downtown Orlando as commissioners backed a $786 million spending plan that will use tourist tax dollars to fund 13 projects, Monday, October 19, 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)