Orange County District 5 Commissioner Dr. Kelly Martinez Semrad will host a press conference titled “Defending Your Dollars” to address the increasing overreach by the State of Florida and its impact on local control, public funds, and essential community services. This event will take place on Tuesday, August 5th at 8:00 AM at the Orange County Administration Building 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, Orlando 32801. You can stay and give Public Comment at 9 am when the Orange County Board of County Commissioner Meeting begins.
This Press Conference will highlight the urgent concerns over how state mandates are stripping local governments of their ability to serve residents effectively particularly regarding housing, immigration enforcement, public safety infrastructure, environmental protections, and budget autonomy.
The events will feature frontline organizations, local leaders, and policy advocates speaking on the direct consequences of the state’s actions, including:
· The Visit Orlando Audit: The Comptroller's Formal Audit released Tuesday revealed nearly $4 million in misappropriated public tourism tax dollars, while the state continues to preempt local authority to redirect those funds toward affordable housing, public transportation, or utility relief for residents struggling with inflation.
· State Rejection of Vision 2050: The Florida Department of Commerce has rejected Orange County’s long-term Vision 2050 Comprehensive Plan, citing Senate Bill 180. This unprecedented preemption limits local government’s ability to enforce smart growth policies, protect the environment, and regulate sprawling development favoring corporate developers over community needs.
· Threats from the Florida Attorney General: Orange County has received a letter from the State Attorney General’s Office threatening the removal of elected officials if the County does not comply with an unfunded mandate to participate in the 287(g) immigration enforcement agreement. This policy would require local dollars and law enforcement to transport non-criminal migrants to a South Florida detention facility diverting resources from public safety and jail operations.
· Florida Department of Government Efficiency ( Florida D.O.G.E.) Letter: On July 29th, the County received a demand from D.O.G.E. for an extensive audit and justification of all local expenditures over the past five years, with the intent to force cuts to vital services under the guise of fiscal accountability.
Commissioner Semrad stated:
“This is not about partisan politics. This is about protecting the tax dollars of Orange County residents. The State of Florida is preventing us from using our resources to address homelessness, housing, and infrastructure, while enabling unchecked spending and redirection of funds toward an extreme political agenda. Our communities are suffering, and we’re standing up to say: enough.”
This Press Conference is open to the press and the public. Speakers will include representatives from affordable housing organizations, immigrant advocacy groups, environmental coalitions, and local officials.
Contact
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Media Inquiries:
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