From Staff Reports and the Orange County Newsroom
In Summary:
Christine Moore and Kimberly Buchheit will give Apopka and northwest Orange County two voices on a new task force examining future uses of Tourist Development Tax revenue. Orange County collected a record $384.6 million from the tax during the 2024-25 fiscal year, but state law restricts the money to tourism-related purposes. The task force will begin meeting on July 21 and is expected to complete its recommendations in August.
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Apopka and northwest Orange County will have two representatives on a newly appointed task force charged with recommending how the county should use future unallocated revenue from its Tourist Development Tax.
Former Orange County District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore and Kimberly Buchheit, representing the City of Apopka, are among 30 members appointed to the 2026 Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced.
Moore will represent Orange County Commission District 2, which includes Apopka and much of northwest Orange County. Buchheit will serve as Apopka’s municipal representative, giving the area two voices as the panel considers the future of one of Orange County’s largest and most closely watched revenue sources.
"After serving and voting as a commissioner on previous TDT votes, it is my pleasure to assist as a community member in recommending projects to the BCC," Moore said. "I’m particularly interested in the efficacy of eco-tourism applicants who can bring in a new wave of economic opportunity for Central Florida."
Buchheit has 35 years of executive-level experience as a business owner in the highly technical field of land surveying in Central Florida. In recent years, Buchheit has served on the Orange County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and was elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, Seat 2, for the 2023-2025 term.
"My skill set and interests are a good fit for the TDT Task Force," said Buchheit. "I appreciate the confidence shown in my ability, and I look forward to contributing in a meaningful way."
The Tourist Development Tax, commonly called the “bed tax,” is a 6% tax charged on hotel rooms and other short-term accommodations rented for less than six months. Orange County voters authorized the tax, which was enacted by county ordinance in 1978.
With more than 76 million visitors arriving in Orange County annually, the tax generates hundreds of millions of dollars. Orange County collected a record $384.6 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue during the 2024-25 fiscal year, more than any other Florida county, according to the county’s TDT Citizen Advisory Task Force website.
In Orange County, the tax primarily supports the Orange County Convention Center, tourism promotion through organizations such as Visit Orlando, arts and cultural programs, sporting and entertainment events, film incentives, and major venues. Portions of the revenue are also committed to the convention center and venue debt.
Former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin and Lift Orlando President Eddy Moratin will co-chair the task force. Its membership includes representatives from each County Commission district, Orange County municipalities, business chambers, organized labor, the Orlando Economic Partnership, and the county mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council.
Moore served two terms as the District 2 county commissioner. During her eight years on the commission, she represented Apopka and other northwest Orange County communities in county policy and budget decisions. Her appointment returns her to a countywide advisory role focused on a revenue source that has historically sparked substantial debate about how tourism dollars can benefit both visitors and residents.
Buchheit’s appointment gives Apopka a direct municipal representative during those discussions. Other municipalities represented on the panel include Belle Isle, Edgewood, Ocoee, Maitland, Eatonville, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Windermere, Oakland, and Orlando.
The task force’s first meeting is scheduled from 9 am to noon on Tuesday, July 21, in the Orange County Commission chambers at the Orange County Administration Center, 201 S. Rosalind Ave. in downtown Orlando.
Key points
- Christine Moore will represent Orange County Commission District 2 on the task force.
- Kimberly Buchheit will serve as the City of Apopka’s representative.
- Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax is a 6% tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals of less than six months.
- The county collected a record $384.6 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue during fiscal year 2024-25.
- The task force will recommend uses for future unallocated revenue to the Tourist Development Council and the Orange County Commission.
