Orange County to Hold First Public Hearing for FY 2025-2026 Budget

Orange County, FL. – The Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will hold two public hearings on the proposed $8.3 billion Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget.

The public hearings are scheduled for Thursday, September 4, and Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 5:01 p.m. Both meetings will take place in the BCC Chambers at the Orange County Administration Center.

A few budget highlights include:

Housing For All
The County continues to advance its commitment to affordable housing. To date, nearly 3,000 affordable housing units have been created. For FY 2025-26, the County has allocated $17.7 million to the affordable housing trust fund as part of a long-term commitment of $160 million over ten years.

Transportation
The Accelerated Transportation Safety Program closed out its first year, completing more than 60 projects, which include more than 14 miles of new sidewalks, an additional 14 miles of roadway lighting, and safety enhancements across 21.4 miles of roadways. For FY 2025-26, approximately $23.9 million has been allocated to continue transportation safety and efficiency upgrades. This funding is part of a larger five-year investment of more than $100 million.

Public Safety Commitment
Public Safety Commitment: Public safety remains one of the County’s highest priorities. For FY 2025-26, the County has allocated more than $1 billion for Fire Rescue ($575M), Corrections ($220M), and Sheriff’s Office ($446M). This strategic investment will fund new staff positions, infrastructure improvements, and the construction of several new fire stations to ensure that emergency response times remain low throughout the County.

Parks and Recreation
The County has more than 100 parks, trails, and recreation sites, offering safe and scenic spaces for residents of all ages. For FY 2025-26, the County has budgeted $133 million for the Parks and Recreation Division, including 15 Capital Improvement projects for construction, maintenance, renovations, and new amenities.

Utilities
For FY 2025-26, the County will invest $297.9 million in a Capital Improvement Program to strengthen its water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and solid waste infrastructure, ensuring the continued delivery of essential services. Orange County Utilities operates as an enterprise fund, meaning its services are funded and maintained through customer rates and fees rather than tax dollars.

A budget report is available and includes highlights for the FY 2025-2026 County Budget.

Viewing Options: Orange TV will broadcast the meeting live on multiple platforms. Viewers can tune in on Spectrum Channel 488, Comcast Channel 9, CenturyLink Prism TV Channel 1081, or WSWF Channel 10.2 (over the air). The meeting can also be streamed live at ocfl.net/otvlive or viewed through the Orange TV app on Roku, listed under the Education category.