Orange County Supervisor of Elections Announces Recovery of Taxpayer Funds and First Successful Election

Published on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 20:12

Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Announces Recovery of Taxpayer Funds and First Successful Election

[ORANGE COUNTY, FL-- March 12, 2025] - Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, is proud to announce the successful execution of her first election, with 100% of election results reported by 7:30 PM, and no issues reported throughout the day. This efficient and smooth process reflects the dedicated efforts of the team at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office.

"I want to first congratulate my team for their hard work and commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful election,” said Karen Castor Dentel. “We are in the business of running elections, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our job is to ensure the election process is secure, transparent, and seamless, and yesterday’s success was a testament to our dedication to that mission."

To add to that success, Supervisor Castor Dentel is thrilled to share a significant victory for taxpayers: a successful recovery of funds allocated for the office’s election administration efforts. Through strategic collaboration, the majority of these funds have now been returned to the office, ensuring more efficient use of taxpayer dollars moving forward.

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections is proud to announce today a major achievement in the recovery of taxpayer funds. As of 12:12 PM today, the Valencia College Foundation returned $2.1 million, completing the return of funds allocated for elections operation but disbursed for other uses. This follows earlier returns $275,000 from CareerSource Central Florida and $864,500 from the Central Florida Foundation, bringing the total recovery to over $3.2 million.

"Today marks an important day in our efforts to restore fiscal responsibility and meet our operating obligations. With the return of $2.1 million from Valencia College Foundation, we have now successfully recovered all funds that were not spent," said Castor Dentel. “This recovery allows us to fully pay off outstanding debts from the 2024 Elections and ensures that the office can continue its core mission of conducting secure, transparent elections.”

Overcoming Overspending

When Castor Dentel assumed office on January 7, 2025, one of her top priorities was addressing the financial crisis she inherited. The previous administration’s overspending had left the office in a serious budgetary deficit. According to a report released by the Comptroller, the previous administration spent 51% of the office’s total fiscal year budget within just two months, depleting funds that should have lasted through March 2025.

"The overspending was so severe that the office couldn’t even meet its payroll. Without the support of Mayor Demings, the County Commission, and Comptroller Diamond, more than 50 employees would have gone unpaid during Christmas,” Castor Dentel explained.

On her first day in office, Castor Dentel and her team discovered 118 outstanding checks totaling more than $2 million, as well as 100 unaccounted-for invoices amounting to $700,000. This included debts to hundreds of sheriff’s deputies, election workers, and vendors essential for election security and operations.

“We were faced with $250,000 owed to sheriff’s deputies who worked during the presidential election, $700,000 to poll workers and election personnel, and hundreds of thousands more to companies responsible for election equipment, software, and ballot printing,” said Castor Dentel. “Since day one, we have worked tirelessly to pay down these debts and ensure our partners, both in government and the private sector, have confidence in our ability to meet our financial obligations.”

Working with Partners to Recover Funds

The successful recovery of funds is the result of collaboration with key partners committed to making the office whole again:

CareerSource Central Florida: Returned $275,000 on January 24, 2025.
Central Florida Foundation: Returned $864,500 on February 25, 2025. The foundation will continue to administer grants for voter education and registration programs.
Valencia College Foundation: As of 12:12 PM today, the foundation returned $2.1 million, completing the recovery process.

The Elections office looks forward to a continued partnership with the College to support future voter engagement initiatives, including new early voting locations on Valencia College campuses.

“We greatly appreciate the collaboration of CareerSource Central Florida, the Central Florida Foundation, and the Valencia College Foundation in returning these funds,” said Castor Dentel. “Their support ensures that this office can continue to fulfill its mission of conducting elections and increasing voter education.”

While the financial recovery process is a significant achievement, Castor Dentel emphasized that there is still work to be done. "While we are not whole yet, these funds have allowed us to settle significant outstanding bills, ensuring that the office can catch up with its financial commitments while maintaining the integrity of our election operations," said Castor Dentel. "This recovery is an important step, but there is more work to be done to ensure the long-term financial health of the office."

-VOTE-

Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections
Street Address: 119 West Kaley Street, Orlando, FL 32806
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 562001, Orlando, FL 32856-2001
Office: 407-836-2070 • Fax: 407-254-6596

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