On Monday, Florida Republicans introduced legislation that will allow Governor Ron DeSantis to appoint all five leaders of Disney’s tax district in Orlando, as well as officially rename the district.
The bill will rename the Reedy Creek Improvement District the Central Florida Tourism Oversight, fulfilling DeSantis’ promise made last year to take over the district.
According to DeSantis’ office, the special tax district that has allowed Disney to govern itself since 1967 has turned the theme park into “an unaccountable Corporate Kingdom.”
“Florida is dissolving the Corporate Kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency,” DeSantis’ office said. “These actions ensure a state-controlled district accountable to the people instead of a corporate-controlled kingdom.”
DeSantis’ office said that the legislation:
- Permanently eliminates Disney’s self-governing status.
- Imposes a state-controlled, term-limited board – with members appointed by the governor – on Disney and its property.
- Allows the state to impose taxes on Disney for possible road projects outside of the District’s boundaries.
- Ensures that Disney pays the $700+ million in unsecured debt – not Florida taxpayers.
- Provides no control of the district to the leftist local government in Orange County, which threatened to leverage the situation to raise local taxes.
- Imposes Florida law so that Disney is no longer given preferential treatment.
- Prevents Disney from gaining more land by eminent domain.
- Creates an avenue to compel Disney to contribute to local infrastructure.
DeSantis’ office also released a list of some of the powers that Disney previously had when they governed themselves:
- Full self-governing status with a Disney-selected board.
- The ability to build airports and nuclear facilities.
- Acquisition of property beyond the District’s territory by condemnation and eminent domain.
- Unilateral boundary changes.
- No-bid procurements of construction contracts.
- Operating standards that varied from Florida Statute.
- Exemptions from regulatory reviews and approvals that other companies must navigate.
Jeff Vahle, President, of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement that the company was closely watching the legislation.
“We are monitoring the progression of the draft legislation, which is complex given the long history of the Reedy Creek Improvement District,” he said. “Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year.”
In my opinion, this is why I am team DeSantis in many ways.
I honestly, feel that he tackles the woke culture in a way that needs to be done.
However, it will take a lot more than just legal hoops to stop the woke machine but he is definitely putting things in place that will help halt it.
If we all say no to this madness, it will end.
We cannot allow them to bully us in submission since that is the reason we got here in the first place.
