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Ron DeSantis to Take Control of Disney’s Reedy Creek Board of Directors and RENAME It in a Republican-Proposed Bill to Continue His War with the ‘Corporate Kingdom’
- The Florida legislature proposed a bill Monday that would give Ron DeSantis control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
- The Walt Disney Co has maintained the autonomous special taxing district since 1967
- The bill caps off an ongoing battle between DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co.
Ron DeSantis is stepping up the battle against Disney’s Reedy Creek board of directors by taking full oversight control of Walt Disney Co’s special autonomous tax district that encompasses the nearly 40-square-mile Walt Disney World Resort.
Florida’s governor has vowed to crack down on the area, which has a five-member board and has operated for years with the same kind of authority and responsibility as 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.
Florida lawmakers propose in a new bill introduced Monday that DeSantis be given full control over the special district so he can appoint the five-member board of supervisors that runs the special district. The nominees would then have to be confirmed by the Florida state senators.
The proposed legislation would maintain Reedy Creek’s obligation to pay nearly $1 billion in outstanding bonds and would rename the area the ‘Central Florida Tourism Supervisory District’.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is escalating the battle against Disney’s Reedy Creek board of directors by taking full oversight control of Walt Disney Co’s formerly autonomous special tax district that encompasses the nearly 40-square-mile Walt Disney World Resort .
Reedy Creek, which has brought extensive benefits to Disney for the past half century due to the special designation, is governed by five board members elected by local owners.
Considering that most of the land within the special district is owned by Disney and its affiliates, the company has lopsided power over how the area is managed and essentially allows the Walt Disney Co. to operate as a form of government.
New rules proposed in Monday’s bill would bar anyone with ties to the theme park from serving on the Reedy Creek board.
“These actions ensure a state-controlled district accountable to the people rather than a corporate-controlled kingdom,” DeSantis deputy press secretary Jeremy Redfern said.
If passed, the legislation would permanently eliminate Disney’s ability to govern itself in the area encompassing Orange and Osceola counties in Florida.
Walt Disney World says company is ‘monitoring progress’ on legislation
Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle released a statement on proposed legislation that would restructure the Reedy Creek Improvement District, saying the company is “monitoring progress” on 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.”
If the bill becomes law, it would also limit the board’s term and put the governor in charge of nominating members, as well as allow Florida to impose taxes and laws on Disney and the district that encompasses its resort.
In addition, the bill would ensure that Disney is responsible for paying more than $700 million in unsecured debt and make sure that it doesn’t fall on Florida taxpayers.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was created by the Florida legislature in 1967 and granted Disney special privileges and rights of self-governance, which have been the subject of DeSantis.
This power amounted to an irresponsible corporate kingdom,” Redfern said.
The bill is the culmination of an ongoing standoff between DeSantis and one of the state’s largest employers.