ORLANDO, Fla. – A preliminary audit conducted by the Orange County Comptroller’s Office has raised concerns about “significant issues” within Visit Orlando’s operating budget and record-keeping practices, including the omission of information regarding how $6.3 million was spent.
District Four Commissioner Mayra Uribe expressed frustration at the findings, citing misuse of funds and a lack of transparency within the organization. She said her frustration is focused on the misuse of funds and lack of transparency.
Uribe also voiced concerns that Visit Orlando, which manages a budget exceeding $100 million annually, has gone too long without sufficient oversight.
“This is a very seasoned organization, so this isn’t the first time around. We’re not one year in. We are decades in,” Uribe said.
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The audit highlights several key issues. According to the comptroller’s office, Visit Orlando had $35 million in an emergency reserve account despite a contract stating a reserve was unnecessary.
Additionally, the audit found that Visit Orlando failed to charge large advertising accounts for services that would have reimbursed taxpayer money. Specifically, the audit revealed that the organization did not bill more than $600,000 in 2022 and more than $700,000 in 2023.
“It’s also showing a lot of waste and lack of your invoice [being] paid and also lack of telling us how you’re spending the money,” Uribe said.
The partial audit also states that Visit Orlando has been engaging in lobbying activities without the necessary permission from the county.
“I was in town for transportation, and they were in Tallahassee for their own agency. So it is not rocket science. It’s very simple. They just didn’t think they were held to the same standard,” Uribe said.
In response to the audit, Visit Orlando released a statement, saying in part, “Our team is reviewing and will be clarifying items with the Comptroller’s office, as we are committed to being good partners throughout this audit and beyond.”
It’s unclear when a full audit will be released.
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