Ron DeSantis will take control of Disney’s Reedy Creek board and will RENAME it in bill proposed by Republicans to carry on their war with the ‘Corporate Kingdom’
- Florida legislature proposed a bill Monday that would give Ron DeSantis control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District
- The Walt Disney Co has held the self-governing special tax district since 1967
- The bill culminates an ongoing battle between DeSantis and Walt Disney Co.
Ron DeSantis is escalating the battle against Disney’s Reedy Creek board by taking full control in overseeing Walt Disney Co’s formerly self-governing special tax district encompassing the nearly 40 square miles of Walt Disney World Resort.
The Florida governor has vowed to crack down on the area, which has a five-member board and has operated for years with the same type of authority and responsibility as a county government – until now.
‘Florida is dissolving the Corporate Kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency,’ DeSantis deputy press secretary told DailyMail.com in a statement.
Lawmakers in Florida are proposing in a new bill filed Monday that DeSantis be given full control over the that he be able to appoint the five-member board of supervisors that run the special district. The nominees would then need to be confirmed by Florida state senators.
The proposed legislation would keep in place Reedy Creek’s obligation to almost $1 billion of outstanding bonds and rename the area to the ‘Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.’
Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, is escalating the battle against Disney’s Reedy Creek board by taking full control in overseeing Walt Disney Co’s formerly self-governing special tax district encompassing the nearly 40 square miles of Walt Disney World Resort
Reedy Creek, which granted sweeping benefits to Disney over the last half century due to the special designation, is governed by five board members elected by local property owners.
Considering most of the land within the special district is owned by Disney and its affiliates, the company is given an unbalanced amount of power over how the area is run and essentially allowed Walt Disney Co. to operate as a form of government.
The new rules proposed in Monday’s bill would prevent anyone who had ties to the theme park from serving on the Reedy Creek board.
‘These actions ensure a state-controlled district accountable to the people instead of a corporate-controlled kingdom,’ DeSantis’ deputy press secretary Jeremy Redfern noted.
If approved, the legislation would permanently eliminate Disney’s ability to self-govern the area spanning Orange and Osceola counties in Florida.
Walt Disney World says the company is ‘monitoring the progression ‘ of the legislation
Walt Disney World president Jeff Vahle released a statement on the proposed legislation that would restructure Reedy Creek Improvement District, says the company is ‘monitoring the progression’ of the legislation.
‘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.’
It would also term-limit the board and put the governor in charge of nominating members – as well as allowing Florida to impose taxes and laws on Disney and the district its resort encompasses.
Additionally, the legislation would ensure Disney is held responsible for paying more than $700 million in unsecured debts and makes sure that doesn’t fall on Florida taxpayers.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was created by the Florida legislature in 1967 and provided Disney with special privileges and self-governing rights, which have been targeted by DeSantis.
This power amounted to an unaccountable corporate kingdom,’ Redfern noted.
The bill is a culmination of an ongoing clash between DeSantis and one of the state’s largest employers.
