DeSantis Gains Control of Disney World’s Special Tax District After 50 Years of Autonomy

Edited by: TJVNews.com

As Disney continues on the path to “wokeness”, it was reported recently that the governor of the Sunshine State has not gained control of Disney World’s special tax district, according to a report in the New York Post.

On Friday, the Florida Senate voted 26-9 to end Walt Disney World’s control over its special tax district after more than five decades of quasi-governmental autonomy, the Post reported.

A new board will be made up of appointees of DeSantis and the legislation will rename the Reedy Creek Improvement District as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the Post reported.

Prior to the passage of the legislation, DeSantis said at press conference on Wednesday that, “this is obviously now going to be controlled by the state of Florida, which is no longer self-governing for them. So, there’s a new sheriff in town, and that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

DeSantis and Disney have had a contentious relationship since last year when  Disney publicly opposed his so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which banned classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for kids in kindergarten through the third grade, the Post reported.

DeSantis argued that the measure protected children from age-inappropriate subject matter, while Disney asserted that it was hostile to the LGBTQ community, the report indicated.

Initially, DeSantis had wanted to have the district dissolved completely. He asserted that Disney was heading into the sphere of leftist activism, according to the Post report.

Since its inception in 1967, the state of Florida and Disney had established an arrangement that has allowed the theme park to levy taxes, administer its own police and fire departments, run its water and sewage systems and assert eminent domain claims, the report said. Essentially, Disney had become its own autonomous city, separate and apart from the rest of Florida.

Down the line, the course shifted as Republicans in Florida had sought to keep the district intact while repopulating the oversight board, the Post reported.

DeSantis will appoint five members to sit on the panel, once he signs off on the bill, the Post reported.

To date, members all had close ties to Disney and aligned with the company’s interests. The Post reported that the new framework will bar the company from approving certain large-scale projects such as airports and stadiums and will prohibit it from using state tax dollars to fund advertising.

Disney will also remain responsible for roughly $1 billion in debt obligations, according to the Post report.

Florida’s largest employer will still retain significant tax privileges moving forward. The Post reported that Jeff Vahle, president of the Walt Disney World resort, said that the company was monitoring 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,” he said.