ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Orange County residents descended on the County Commission Meeting on Thursday to sound off about the proposed $9 million budget.<\/p>\n
It was the first time public comments were allowed at a budget hearing.<\/p>\n
Most of the public speakers were upset at the $470 million that Orange County Sheriff John Mina asked of the county. His original request was $508 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am concerned about money being spent to increase the Sheriff\u2019s budget at a time that Amendment 3 threatens the future funding of our communities,\u201d said Jill Heroux, who lives in District 3.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery dollar that is committed to police funding is a dollar that we can\u2019t commit to healthcare, that we can\u2019t commit to transportation, that we can\u2019t commit to housing,\u201d said Fisher Kibler, an Orange County resident.<\/p>\n
The proposed budget includes 10% cuts across all county departments. Department heads submitted those reductions to county leaders back in July, who then passed the proposed budget.<\/p>\n
The preemptive cuts were made in anticipation of Amendment 3, a property tax proposal that could result in revenue losses for local governments across the state. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said if the measure passes in November, the county could lose about $440 million in 2027 and 2028.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Amendment 3 is approved,s this board will face difficult decisions about spending and legally available sources of revenue,\u201d Demings said.<\/p>\n
Demings also defended Sheriff Mina\u2019s budget request, which is about 11% higher than the previous year, saying the budget increase \u201cis to maintain a level of service to keep people safe here in Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioners are expected to vote in favor of the budget on September 24.<\/p>\n
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