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Fighting between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company continued on Wednesday as the Republican-led legislature approached the abolition of the entertainment giant’s special tax status.
The state senate voted to dissolve the area to improve Reedy Creek, a 1967 deal between the state and Walt Disney that allowed Disney to control most of what was happening at the theme park and its vast land.
DeSantis (R) praised the effort, telling potential donors in a fundraising email: “I was chosen to put the people of Florida first and I will not allow an awakened California-based corporation to run our state.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Central Florida are sounding the alarm, warning that the repeal could leave them with a burdensome tax bill. Disney is currently responsible for everything, including road maintenance, building inspections, 911 emergency calls and wastewater treatment at the two-county, 40-square-mile theme park.
“Orange County will be stuck at $ 164 million or more a year in non-revenue expenses,” said Orange County Tax Scott Randolph. “So they will have to raise property taxes. This is a huge increase in the taxes for the citizens of Orange County, which they will have to pay every year.
The bill is aimed at a final vote in the state on Thursday.
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Opponents of the bill say it’s hasty – DeSantis unveiled it on Tuesday during a planned three-day special session to redeploy Congress. They warn that this could have devastating unintended consequences for local authorities in Orange and Osceola counties, as well as for employees such as Reedy Creek firefighters, who could lose their jobs if the counties cannot afford to pay them.
The bitter rift between Disney, the state’s largest employer, and DeSantis began after the company publicly criticized a law backed by the governor that bans gender issues in public schools from kindergarten to third grade. . When Disney CEO Bob Chapek issued a statement opposing the law and vowing to work for its repeal, DeSantis said the company had “crossed the line.”
The unraveling of Reedy Creek would not begin until June 2023.
“This leaves Damocles’ sword over Disney’s head for 13 months. That’s closing them down, “said Florida Sen. Jeff Brands (R). “No one really thinks this will happen. The cost to the state would be astronomical, potentially billions of dollars.
Brandes was the only Republican to vote against the bill, joining every Senate Democrat. He said DeSantis, who will be re-elected this year and is a potential presidential candidate in 2024, is enjoying the feud.
“It’s not even for Disney,” Brandes said. “It’s about staying with Fox. It is about prolonging the media life of this story. It’s gold for him. “
A Disney spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday.
Chad Emerson, who wrote a book about the creation of Reedy Creek called The Future Project: The Inner Story Behind the Creation of Disney World, said an argument could be made for disbanding the special quarter after more than half a century.
“If you really want to do this, you can close it in 10 or 15 years. “It’s not something that can be done overnight,” Emerson said. “It’s so short-sighted. It’s like jumping off a plane without a parachute and wondering what will happen next. ”
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