ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Orange County\u2019s budget could lose hundreds of millions of dollars if voters decide to get rid of property taxes in November, according to one Orange County Commissioner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be a shortfall of over $100 million and then $200 million the following year,\u201d said District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott. \u201cWhen you talk about $100 billion less in funds to be able to run any business for profit, nonprofit, that\u2019s some very tough conversations, potentially for job cuts and position eliminations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Floridians will vote on Amendment 3 in November, which could eliminate property taxes on primary residences for 60% of homeowners in the Sunshine State. That revenue has historically funded public education and public safety. <\/p>\n
Orange County\u2019s current budget is $9.7 billion. County commissioners held a budget workshop on Wednesday, during which department leaders gave presentations, making the case for keeping their budgets untouched. Sheriff John Mina was one of them. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, there\u2019s only so much money to go around,\u201d said Orange County Sheriff John Mina.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Mina initially asked for a $508 million budget to hire 140 new positions, including deputies. He later lowered that amount to $470 million after meeting with Mayor Demings and other county leaders. Those meetings happened prior to Wednesday\u2019s workshop.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing that Amendment 3 could be coming, we\u2019re just trying to be sensitive to that,\u201d Sheriff Mina said.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Mina asked commissioners to raise the Municipal Service Tax Rate, which he said has not been increased since the late 1990s. Doing so, Mina says, would add an additional $12 million to the Sheriff\u2019s Office\u2019s budget. <\/p>\n
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