According to a notice filed in Osceola County, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is taking early steps to replace the Disney-run Reedy Creek Improvement District with a state-run board to operate the District. The notice was posted to the Osceola County website today:
Notice is hereby given of intent to seek legislation before the Florida Legislature, during a regular, extended, or special session, of an act relating to the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange and Osceola Counties; amending, reenacting, and repealing Chapter 67-764, Laws of Florida, and decree in chancery no. 66-1061 (May 13, 1966); removing and revising powers of the District; increasing state oversight, accountability, and transparency of the District; revising the selection process, membership qualifications, and compensation for the governing body of the District; ensuring debts and bond obligations held by the District remain with the District and are not transferred to other governments by retaining the District’s authority related to indebtedness and taxation; revising the District’s authority over local permitting and regulation; revising the District’s regulatory framework and structure; instituting reporting requirements, including a review of the District’s remaining powers; describing the District boundaries and name; revising exceptions to general law and certain special acts; removing duplicative provisions; making conforming changes; creating an exception to general law; providing an effective date.
A report from flvoicenews quotes DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Fenske as saying “The corporate kingdom has come to an end. Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes”
The road to dismantling the Reedy Creek Improvement District is a winding one, but one that started essentially out of retaliation by DeSantis after he and Disney butted heads over the “Don’t Say Gay” law earlier this year. Here’s a timeline of the fallout:
March 2022
- March 7th – Disney CEO Bob Chapek sends out a company-wide email that says that Disney will not denounce the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and that the company will essentially try to stay out of politics.
- March 9th – Disney CEO Bob Chapek attempts to walk back his email, saying that the company has been “opposed to the bill from the outset”.
- March 10th – The Human Rights Organization rejects Disney’s donation
- March 11th – Disney CEO Bob Chapek sends a company-wide email apologizing for lack of action and advocacy on “Don’t Say Gay” bill
- March 22nd – Hundreds of Disney employees participate in a walkout at Disney Headquarters over the company’s initial apathy over “Don’t Say Gay” bill
- March 28th – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs “Don’t Say Gay” into law, Disney responds
- March 30th – Florida lawmakers begin floating the idea of dismantling the Reedy Creek Improvement District in retaliation for Disney’s support of LGBTQIA+ communities
April
- April 20th – Florida Senate passes bill to dismantle the Reedy Creek Improvement District
- April 22nd – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill to dismantle Reedy Creek Improvement District
May
- May 2nd – DeSantis is said to want to create his own “Lake Buena Vista District” in place of the Reedy Creek Improvement District
- May 16th – DeSantis says that he’ll make Disney pay an outstanding RCID debt of $1 billion despite no laws requiring Disney to do so
August
- August 23rd – In a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the state, DeSantis’ lawyers argue the RCID dissolution might not happen
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Let’s do The Villages and about 15 others as well. This is retaliation from a sitting Governor over opinions. Shame on him and the present state congress.
DeSantis just want to be ruler, a dictator, who only care about himself. Leave well enough alone, as the old sayings goes, if it not broke leave alone. See, he will make it that if Disney go under the state will not be on the hook for their debt. So I hope Disney fight like heck so Dictator DeSantis does not get his way
Disney did this to themselves
You think wasting taxpayer money and legislative time and effort over a personal vendetta is good governance?
As much as some of us don’t like him, Bob Chapek has a right to freedom of speech and the government punishing his company for his opinion is clearly unconstitutional and also insane. This isn’t North Korea.
No… a grandstanding BLOWHARD did this… a smart governor would work alongside a huge asset to his state such as Disney. That is why he will never win a presidential election. He like trump only governs for the minority of the country… get rid of the electoral college farce and republicans of today would never win.
F**k DeSantis. Useless pr**k.
Seriously. Caring about others is a disease.
And what did we learn here today kids?
Don’t play politics if your a corporate entity.
That’s some POS “governor” down there.
So much for small government.
It is all show. He knows this will get tied up in the courts, at the expense of the taxpayers, just long enough for him to parade it around for a 2024 presidential run. His dimwitted supporters are eating it up.
The head hunting being led the Governor over this is despicable. DeSantis needs to focus on this issue we’re having with housing insurance and the lack thereof happening across-the state and how homeowners are being gouged by insurance companies, the price of rent is skyrocketing, and the price of electricity in our state! State workers also need decent raises and teachers. Get to the real deal Desantis and leave Reedy Creek alone!
I feel sorry for all the people living in Florida now that will have to pay higher taxes. When he runs for president and does not win he now has no power and is out of office.
How much will taxes increase with this “takeover”?