Orange COunty gOvernment DireCtOry - OrangeCountyFl.net
Orange COunty gOvernment DireCtOry - OrangeCountyFl.net
Orange COunty gOvernment DireCtOry - OrangeCountyFl.net
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The Source 2013/2014<br />
<strong>Orange</strong> County Government Directory<br />
General County Information<br />
would otherwise have to pay for outof-pocket.<br />
In 2011, visitors contributed<br />
$31.6 billion to Metro Orlando’s economy.<br />
Tourism is also Central Florida’s largest<br />
employer and most dynamic industry,<br />
accounting for 224,615 direct industry<br />
jobs in 2009. More than one-third of total<br />
wage and salary employment in Orlando<br />
is sustained by tourism, more than<br />
construction, defense, communications,<br />
or government. The annual earned wages<br />
of direct tourism industry employees was<br />
nearly $7.7 billion in 2011.<br />
As the tourism industry’s leader,<br />
VisitOrlando® markets and brands the<br />
area worldwide as the premier leisure,<br />
convention, and business destination<br />
for the continual economic benefit of<br />
the community. Established in 1984,<br />
VisitOrlando® is a private, not-for-profit<br />
trade association that is membership<br />
based and operates under the direction<br />
of an elected and designated board<br />
of directors. You can find out more<br />
VisitOrlando® and Central Florida’s<br />
tourism at www.visitorlando.com.<br />
Transportation<br />
There are approximately 778 miles of<br />
major roadways (expressways, arterials,<br />
and collectors) in unincorporated <strong>Orange</strong><br />
County. Of this total, about 374 miles<br />
are state maintained and 404 miles<br />
are county maintained. The Orlando-<br />
<strong>Orange</strong> County Expressway Authority<br />
is responsible for 206 miles of limited<br />
access tolled highways: The Beachline<br />
Expressway (S.R. 528), East/West<br />
Expressway (S.R. 408), Central Florida<br />
GreeneWay (S.R. 417), Western Beltway<br />
(S.R. 429), and the John Land Apopka<br />
Expressway (S.R. 414).<br />
Managed by the Greater Orlando<br />
Aviation Authority, the Orlando<br />
International Airport (OIA) is one<br />
of Central Florida’s most important<br />
economic assets. With over 33 million<br />
passengers served in 2009, OIA is the<br />
26th largest airport in the world, the<br />
13th largest in the U.S. and is ranked<br />
second in Florida based on passenger<br />
traffic. Recognized as one of the most<br />
beautiful airports in the world, OIA<br />
is also considered an aesthetic and<br />
technological showcase for its Floridathemed<br />
design incorporated into an<br />
ultra-modern and convenient facility. As<br />
it continues to develop on 14,000 acres<br />
of land, it can serve Central Florida’s<br />
aviation needs well into the 21st century.<br />
Orlando Executive Airport, located three<br />
miles east of Downtown Orlando, acts as<br />
a general aviation reliever to the Orlando<br />
International Airport. The OIA Website,<br />
www.orlandoairports.<strong>net</strong>, provides<br />
up-to-the-minute flight information on<br />
arrivals and departures.<br />
LYNX is the operating name for the<br />
Central Florida Regional Transportation<br />
Authority, which provides public<br />
transportation services for <strong>Orange</strong>,<br />
Seminole, and Osceola Counties. This<br />
service area consists of approximately<br />
2,500 square miles serving a resident<br />
population of more than 1.8 million<br />
people. LYNX operates a colorful<br />
fleet of 268 buses on 71 routes,<br />
called Links. In 2010, LYNX provided<br />
more than 26 million passenger trips<br />
through a combination of traditional<br />
fixed-route bus service, “on-demand”<br />
service known as PickUp Lines, special<br />
service for eligible disabled passengers<br />
known as ACCESS LYNX, and a vanpool<br />
program. LYNX also provides a free<br />
Downtown Orlando shuttle service<br />
known as “LYMMO,” seven days a week.<br />
The standard one-way bus fare is $2<br />
and transfers are free. Check the LYNX<br />
Website, www.golynx.com, for more<br />
information about bus passes, routes,<br />
and schedules.<br />
County Flag<br />
When county officials moved into the<br />
new administration center in October<br />
1984, they noticed the building had<br />
three flagpoles: one each for the federal,<br />
state, and county flags. <strong>Orange</strong> County<br />
had no flag, so Commissioner Vera Carter<br />
called for a contest to design the official<br />
county flag. Area residents submitted<br />
over 300 entries; the only requirement<br />
was that all flags contain something that<br />
symbolized <strong>Orange</strong> County. The winner<br />
of the $500 prize was Richard Adams of<br />
Orlando, who at that time worked on<br />
audioanimatronics at Walt Disney World.<br />
The winning entry shows a lake, orange<br />
grove, and rainbow. <strong>Orange</strong> County<br />
unveiled its flag on June 15, 1985.<br />
Revenue and Expenses (FY 2012 –13 Budget)<br />
Total revenue comes from several sources, as shown in the pie chart on the next page.<br />
Taxes comprise about 26 percent of the budget. It is worth noting that there has been<br />
no increase in the property tax rate for 20 years. In fact there has been a total<br />
decrease in the countywide base millage rate of more than 19 percent.<br />
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