It’s Tuesday, Orlando. The forecast is showing a copy and paste of yesterday, with a partly cloudy morning leading into scattered afternoon storms. Highs will reach about 93. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Orlando's Proposed $1.82B Budget Unveiled

• City Council Approves New Nightclub Limits Downtown

Let’s dive in.

GOVERNMENT

Orlando's Proposed $1.82B Budget Unveiled

Driving the news: Orlando commissioners reviewed a proposed $1.82 billion budget for next year, focusing on fire services expansion and taking on SunRail costs. The budget maintains a flat property tax rate at $6.65 per $1,000 of taxable value, but residents will still see increased tax bills due to rising property values.

Key details:

• SunRail costs: Orlando's $14 million bill covers nine months of SunRail operation, previously funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. Local governments will now share these costs, with Orlando's 12-month share expected to be $18 million next year.

• Budget increase: The general fund increased by 7% to $708 million, covering essential services like police, fire, parks, and roads.

• New positions: 132 new positions are funded, including 77 in police and fire departments to meet growing needs, particularly in fast-growing areas like Lake Nona and the new Sunbridge development. 11 positions will form a unit addressing the growing homeless population, aiming to link individuals to resources rather than arresting them.

What’s ahead: Orlando’s budget will be refined and voted on by commissioners by the end of September.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

POLICY

City Council Approves New Nightclub Limits Downtown

What's happening: Orlando's City Council approved a strict new ordinance limiting downtown nightclubs to one per city block, effectively placing a 300-foot distance requirement between new establishments. This follows the expiration of a nightclub moratorium in September.

Breaking it down:

• Existing establishments: Current nightclubs, even those within 300 feet of each other, are grandfathered in but cannot expand.

• Temporary closures: Grandfathered clubs can temporarily close for renovations but will lose reopening rights if shut for more than six months unless granted an extension by the City Council.

Context:

• Family-friendly goal: Orlando aims to create a more family-oriented downtown. Recent measures include requiring permits for alcohol sales past midnight and restricting after-hours street and parking garage access.

• Comparative measures: Similar regulations exist in cities like West Palm Beach and Miami, which are reportedly even more restrictive.

What's next: The City Council will discuss the rule further on August 12th, and if approved, it will be implemented when the moratorium lifts on September 21st.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. Alaska Airlines is adding two new nonstop flights out of Orlando this winter, with service to Vail, Colorado, and Liberia, a destination on Costa Rica’s coast (not the West African country).

2. Florida citrus growers are seeing some recovery this year, but there’s still a long road ahead with last year’s production numbers the worst in nearly a century.

3. Orlando partnered with First United Methodist Church to open a cooling center to combat the high temps.

4. A new Cantonese barbecue spot is set to open soon at Mills Market. The official date is still TBA.

5. Skyebird Juice Bar is closing its East End Market location on Sunday after 11 years in business.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

Interested in sponsoring O-Town Daily? Let us know here.