Tourism creates a funding stream for better schools, roads, public safety and other important government services in three ways: Property taxes fund most of the county’s general use revenue for areas such as public safety, health and social programs, children services, public transportation, parks and recreation, and infrastructure improvements. In 2019, 12 of the top 15 property tax owners in Orange County were in the tourism industry. Sales taxes also fund a variety of Orange County services and projects, including local school construction and renovation. In a typical year, visitors contribute 50% of all sales taxes collected in our county. Over the past five years, tourism-related sales tax collections have totaled more than half a billion dollars for our local schools. Tourist development taxes on overnight lodging primarily fund destination marketing and the Convention Center; in recent years, this tax has also helped grow the county’s arts, cultural and sporting venues, as well as special events.