Orange County commissioners take up $800 million tourist-tax plan Monday, with $400 million for the Dr. Phillips Center

Orange County commissioners are scheduled to consider a roughly $800 million plan Monday that would spend tourist development tax money on 13 projects, from a downtown Orlando arts center expansion to new athletic facilities at the University of Central Florida, WKMG News 6 reported Sunday.

The money comes from Orange County's 6% tax on hotel and vacation rental stays, which pays for tourism marketing, venues and other projects meant to draw visitors.

Where the money would go

The single largest piece is for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The center asked for $750 million; Mayor Jerry Demings is recommending $400 million, which would still be close to half of the package.

Other recommended projects, according to the station:

• Eatonville: $60 million for a museum of culture and history on the Hungerford property and $20 million for the town's heritage tourism district.
• UCF: $46 million to expand its soccer stadium and build a track facility. The university's original request also sought broadcast upgrades and a new softball stadium, which are not in the recommendation.
• Elsewhere: a children's museum in Winter Garden, a parking garage for Camping World Stadium, and more grants for arts and ecotourism projects.

One supporter of the arts center funding told the station that theater and the arts are "a huge part of Orlando's culture."

The plan is not final. Commissioners are scheduled to take it up at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.

Sources

clickorlando.com