Last month, Universal Orlando was granted a special taxing district to regulate the land encompassing their new Epic Universe theme park. Interestingly, the Board of Supervisors is comprised solely of Universal employees. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not uttered a word about Universal’s new district publicly, let alone leveraged his state government to try and control it. All of that is not lost on Disney, who mentioned Universal’s new local taxing district in their latest court filing in a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In repeated public comments, the Governor declared that the laws do not injure Disney because they simply make the company subject to the same regulatory structure applicable to all other Florida businesses, thereby creating a “level playing field.” That contention is an outright falsehood. In fact, a special district was established just this month to regulate the land encompassing Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park in Orange County—with its inaugural board of supervisors comprising only Universal employees.
Further, most businesses and other property owners in Florida are regulated by elected, politically-accountable municipal bodies. Few Florida businesses are subject, as Disney now is, to governance by a special district with a Governor-controlled board that closely regulates the use of private property with no accountability to local property owners and taxpayers.
The nuance here is that while DeSantis didn’t create Universal’s new taxing District, he’s not punishing them by attempting to take it over either. Universal has not expressed a disfavored view to the Governor.
Universal’s new local taxing district drew immediate comparisons to the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. While Universal was certainly hopeful to avoid comparisons, there is no denying that Universal will directly benefit from the creation of the taxing district, like Disney has benefited from more than 50 years of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Universal’s Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District will be established by Orange County under Florida Statute 190 like the nearly 1,000 additional Community Development Districts in the state. Universal Orlando is not the only taxpayer in the district, although they do own the vast majority of the land. The initial members of the Board of Supervisors will be exclusively Universal employees, according to the Orlando Business Journal.
Just like Universal’s new District, the Reedy Creek Improvement District was comprised of Disney employees on the Board of Supervisors. Just like Universal’s new District, the Reedy Creek Improvement District had multiple landowners. Just like Universal’s new District, the Reedy Creek Improvement District used additional local taxes for the creation of infrastructure benefiting tourism to one theme park.
Unlike Disney, Universal has not spoken out about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, so they are spared the wrath of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not issued a statement about this new theme park/tourism development district run by the theme park that would benefit from the district the most.
Many special taxing districts exist throughout the state of Florida, and many are beneficial to the local residents and communities that they encompass. The Reedy Creek Improvement District was beneficial to millions of people over the decades that it existed and Universal’s new district will likely be beneficial to many as well.
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!
Idiot Ron was caught in 4…no, 8K.
Hm, where are the gov’s fanboi’s on this one…
As expected, we finally have very real evidence that Desantis is engaging in retaliatory actions against Disney. And using the power of the government to do so. Let’s not forget that his line of “BuT wHaT aBoUt OtHeR tAxPaYeRs VoIcEs??!?!?” Ignores the fact Disney pays over 85% of the taxes collected in the special district.
If Disney hadn’t been forced by their employees to lightly (very lightly) condemn the Don’t Say Gay bill (check lines 97-101 if you think that name isn’t apt, and look at the phrase “or developmentally appropriate” which follows the grade “limit”) Desantis wouldn’t be using his power to punish them.
DeSantis has nothing to say because it’s a creation of the county. Despite the tears being shed, the successor district has kept many original features with some obvious changes. Universal’s district is consistent with the law unlike Disney’s blurring of the law with using its own lawyers for self dealing.
Wrong. Desantis has nothing to say because there’s no defense of it. Republicans just want to use governmental power to punish speech they don’t like. Which is something they pretend to condemn. They are blatant hypocrites to anyone not holding their torch.
Disney stated they would spend millions to get the laws overturned that the left claimed as the “Don’t say gay” bill. If you read the actual bill it is reasonable and pretty middle ground. So they picked the fight they now are crying about.
The company was already bleeding money from the streaming services and the parks suffered heavily. Before Disney went far left the parks were amazing and a great place for families. We went once after and Disney World was very different. The magic was gone and the prices were way up. Disney also went away from their core business, families.
DeSantis removed special districts from before a certain date so it was more than Disney that lost the deal they had and plenty of others created after that date still kept them. Maybe Disney should have not tried to go in to politics and concentrated on fixing their financial problems causing their stock to plummet?
Wrong as usual from the Desantis fanbois. If you ACTUALLY read the law you’d take note of lines 97-101. Which clearly extend it passed third grade with the phrase “…or developmentally appropriate.” And was literally used as a foot in the door bill to extend it through high school. Which republicans did because “gay is icky!!!1!1!”
Learn to read these bills instead of parroting what rightwingers tell you about them.