Patrons of the arts could have to dig deeper into their own pockets for a new performing-arts center in Orlando.
The statewide property-tax overhaul approved by the Legislature two weeks ago will trim nearly $10 million from the pot of downtown taxes earmarked for the arts center and upgrades to the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium, Orlando officials said Monday.
But Mayor Buddy Dyer said that when he told backers of the arts-center project about the shortfall, they offered to make up the difference.
"They've agreed to step up their philanthropy by $10 million to offset that loss," Dyer said.
The nonprofit arts-center board, which had already set a goal of raising $125 million toward the center's construction and an operating endowment, will now try to raise $135 million.
Jim Pugh, chairman of the volunteer board and himself a $7.5 million donor, said Dyer called him Monday morning to discuss the funding shortage.
"I told him that if we have to, we have to," Pugh said. "But this is the situation today. Mayor Dyer has assured me that if he can find the money in the [Community Redevelopment Area], he'll do it."
The CRA, which funnels tax dollars into projects that promote downtown redevelopment, is the single largest source of funding for the $425 million arts center.
The city's plan would have tapped the CRA for $160 million in bonds, including $21 million for the Citrus Bowl renovation.
Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sutton said the city would only be able to finance $150 million in bonds because of the property-tax cuts adopted in Tallahassee.
The budget briefing delivered to the City Council on Monday was based on preliminary estimates. But it's the most detailed look yet at Dyer's budget for next year.
Overall, the city's budget is still expected to increase by $2.5 million next year. But if it weren't for the property-tax cuts, the budget would increase by an estimated $19.3 million, Sutton said.
The cuts, in fact, would have left Orlando with $2.1 million less in next year's budget than this year. But the construction of new homes, shopping centers and offices have added to the tax rolls.
"I think it is important to deliver property-tax relief to our homeowners . . . but they've also left us with quite a few questions about what it means for our city and our homeowners," Dyer said.
Dyer said the primary focus of next year's budget would be public safety, and continuing a three-year initiative that will put more cops and firefighters on the street.
But other than departments that are funded through fees, such as the garbage and stormwater divisions, requests for more workers will probably be turned down, he said.
An increase in the city's capital-improvement fund, which pays for things such as road resurfacing and sidewalks, probably will be put on hold as well.