Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs delivered her annual “State of the County” address, touting accomplishments from the past year and previewing some of her key agenda items to be completed soon. Before Mayor Jacobs took the stage, 8-Year-Old violin prodigy Leah Flynn stole the show and wowed the crowd with her performance of the National Anthem.
The speech focused on familiar themes of the Jacobs administration. She began touting local tourism numbers, predicting another record-breaking year of visitors to the Central Florida region once again. She touched on the importance of transportation enhancements, including future expansion phases of SunRail, and spotlighted the region’s tech, modeling and simulation industries. “We have the right team on I-Drive,” Mayor Jacobs said as she expanded on the I-Drive Vision Plan, which will continue transforming the entire area.
At the heart of International Drive is Orange County’s “centerpiece,” the Convention Center. Mayor Jacobs announced 1.4 million visitors were welcomed at the Orange County Convention Center, supporting 26,000 local jobs. The region’s hospitality industry is about a third of the local economy. Mayor Jacobs updated the crowd on the Convention Center’s third year of a $187 million capital project.
As Mayor Jacobs continues debating Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and tourism industry officials over certain tourism development tax spending, she highlighted the importance to “operate from a foundation of fiscal strength and stability.” She touted the fact Orange County has maintained its “superior national credit ratings” and received two new AAA ratings from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. “These ratings signal excellence in the financial world and impact our ability to run a lean and cost-effective county government,” she said.
For a third consecutive year, Orange County property tax revenues are up, with more than $386 million generated in 2015. Mayor Jacobs noted the fact there has been no property tax increase from the County, unlike the City of Orlando’s recent tax hike.
While Mayor Jacobs also touted the region’s tremendous job growth, she failed to focus on the fact the Central Florida region remains one of the lowest paying metro areas in America. She did, however, drill down on the need for more affordable housing. “One of the greatest challenges for families here and across the U.S. is the lack of sufficient affordable housing,” she said. She announced several initiatives to address the issue, including leveraging $1 million from the INVEST program to create 70 new affordable family apartments and a partnership with Florida Hospital, Wayne Densch Charities and Ability Housing to renovate the Wayne Densch Center, which will provide permanent housing for families in very difficult situations.
“With many families reluctant to self-report as homeless, we’re at the early stages of understanding the magnitude of this challenge,” Mayor Jacobs admitted about the region’s continuing homeless problem.
Mayor Jacobs also announced several county initiatives in the pipeline to improve quality of life. Residents can expect $200 million in roadway improvements from the INVEST program, as Orange County continues to focus on creating a more welcoming and safe environment for people on bicycles and pedestrians. According to the mayor, $15 million of the INVEST funds will be allocated for pedestrian safety and intersection improvements, a small step in the right direction. She also briefly discussed the region’s focus on “Beyond I-4 Ultimate,” preparing to fund even more road construction on Central Florida’s main artery.
She announced a $20 million investment in the construction and enhancement of local parks and recreation centers. Orange County is also investing $30 million in public safety, including three new fire stations, new equipment and partnership funding for a training center.
The State of Orange County address did also focus on the serious heroin problem, where Mayor Jacobs announced several recommendations made by her local task force. She also announced a new anti-stigma campaign aimed at college students. “We now know that more than 75% of mental illness presents itself before the age of 25,” she said when describing the new mental health initiative.
In a lighthearted moment, Mayor Jacobs joked about her husband “reducing traffic last week,” referencing his stolen car incident. The crowd shared a good laugh. Mayor Jacobs was also able to laugh at herself after small hiccups delivering her speech. She ended her speech saying the focus is investing in the future of Orange County.
“I am inspired each day to lead,” she said.
