Disney's largely-autonomous reign is set to conclude with the passage of House Bill 9-B, which does away with the "Reedy Creek Improvement District" that had long managed the revenues and land use of the areas surrounding the popular theme parks. Instead, according to the bill, a governor-appointed board of five members will regulate and manage the area.
On Monday, Governor DeSantis announced the appointees for that new board. In a press release, he detailed each new member's background and qualifications briefly. According to that release, the appointees and their professions are:
Martin Garcia, Tampa - Lawyer
Bridget Ziegler, Sarasota - Education Director & Insurance
Brian Aungst, Jr., Clearwater - Lawyer
Michael A. Sasso, Orlando - Lawyer
Ron Peri, Orlando - Software CEO
Outside of local politics and some legal circles, the appointees may not be familiar names to most Floridians. Still, they will soon be tasked with managing and monitoring the largest revenue sources in the state. The district, now renamed the "Central Florida Tourism Oversight District" will continue to operate separately from much of the surrounding area, but the manner of operation will now be left to the new board members.
According to the text of the bill, anyone who has been directly associated with Disney theme parks or any other theme parks included in the district is forbidden from serving on the board for three years. The board will ultimately wield similar power to that previously enjoyed by Disney, including eminent domain powers over land inside the district and control over utilities, tax collection and other items.
The moves have made national news, an unusual development for what is essentially a state-level land zoning issue. The reason for the prominent media coverage dates back to 2022, however, and Disney's outspoken position against the Parental Rights in Education Bill that was supported and signed by Governor DeSantis. The bill, which limited discussions of gender and sexuality in the education of children between kindergarten and third grade, was received with much controversy.
Among the bill's critics was Disney, with then-CEO Bob Chapek making several public statements in opposition to the legislation. Shortly thereafter, Governor DeSantis attempted to remove the tax incentives and protections that the company had long enjoyed inside the state.
Critics of DeSantis' measures say that this latest legislation, along with earlier actions, is little more than blatant retaliation against an outspoken opponent. Some legal analysts have even gone as far as to say that Disney has grounds to sue for such retaliation. Proponents of the legislation, meanwhile, say that the move is long overdue and provides a necessary check on the corporation's power over nearby residents and businesses.
Regardless of the varying opinions, it appears the Reedy Creek Improvement District will no longer function in its current form, with Governor DeSantis signing the legislation this week. While some of DIsney's tax protections still remain, the future for the corporation and its relationship with state authorities is, at best, unclear.
Author's note: Those interested in reading the full text of the bill can click on the link at the top of the article. If you would like greater context for the larger Disney controversy, information can be found here.
let's see what happens when you have to rely on state for ambulance, fire, road maintenance, and utility maintenance. won't be near as nice and will lose a lot of Florida tourist income.
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