Florida
DeSantis eyes state takeover of Disney’s special district
DeSantis, a Republican, advised reporters Monday that it’s fairer for different companies if the state controls the Reedy Creek Enchancment District, the particular district that, since 1967, has primarily allowed the Walt Disney Firm to regulate the land round its properties.
“The trail ahead is Disney is not going to management its personal authorities within the state of Florida,” DeSantis mentioned. “Disney should observe the identical legal guidelines that each different firm has to observe the state of Florida. They are going to pay their justifiable share in taxes.”
Democrats and native officers have urged that native governments and taxpayers within the surrounding counties of Osceola and Orange may very well be on the hook for that debt if Reedy Creek ceases to exist. That opinion is supported by Reedy Creek in a latest assertion to its bondholders and an evaluation by the state Senate, which concluded in April that native authorities “assume all indebtedness of the preexisting particular district.”
However DeSantis promised native and state taxpayers wouldn’t need to pay for Reedy Creek’s excellent debt, which officers have mentioned is about $1 billion. He mentioned the federal government would possible gather extra taxes as soon as Disney’s particular standing is eradicated as soon as it is on extra equal footing with different theme parks working in Florida.
“Extra possible that the state will merely assume management and be sure that we’re in a position to impose the legislation and ensure we’re accumulating the taxes,” he mentioned.
DeSantis didn’t present particulars on how the state would assume management of Reedy Creek. In Florida, the governor appoints board members who oversee lots of the state’s particular districts. Earlier than this new legislation, Reedy Creek board members had been individuals who owned property inside the district’s boundaries — primarily individuals with ties to Disney.
It’s unlikely {that a} plan for Reedy Creek and Disney will probably be finalized till after the November elections, DeSantis mentioned, as a result of he needs enter from incoming legislative leaders. The brand new legislation that will dissolve Reedy Creek doesn’t take impact till June 2023.
However DeSantis was adamant that he doesn’t imagine stewardship of Reedy Creek and its authorities duties — together with working the hearth division, water techniques, roadways and constructing inspectors for Disney’s properties — ought to fall to native governments.
“To begin with, it would be a money cow for them if that they had Disney,” DeSantis mentioned. “However I am anxious that they might use that as a pretext to lift taxes on individuals when that is what they might need to do anyhow after which attempt to blame Reedy Creek, so we’re not going to offer them that chance.”