DeSantis board plans overhaul of Disney district and higher taxes. Here’s what to know
The Disney-DeSantis feud heated up during an oversight board Wednesday morning.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked board opened its meeting in Lake Buena Vista with a list of proposals that will require the district governing the largest taxpayer in Central Florida to raise taxes on itself.
READ MORE: Disney district’s oversight board launches aggressive plan for development
The squabble started nearly two years ago over the company’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees. Tensions heightened when Disney criticized the governor over laws restricting discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Here’s what to know about the board’s discussion and its vision for the district.
Legal limbo over Disney deal
The board quickly voted to invalidate the last-minute arrangement between Disney and the previous board, which outmaneuvered DeSantis in February and entered into development and restrictive covenant agreements with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, U.S., Inc.
The decision to void the deal is likely to draw a lawsuit. Aware of the legal hurdles, legislators voted on amendments that attempt to remove some of the obstacles to retroactively invalidating the deal — though that proposal has also raised constitutional questions.
Changes coming to Disney
▪ Taxes: Though Disney pays more than $1.1 billion in state and local taxes, the company has about 90 lawsuits pending against the Orange County property appraiser. The board said it wants to raise taxes to provide “better services” and cover legal costs.
▪ Lawsuits: The board is considering aggressively defending the lawsuits filed by Disney, many of them challenging property tax assessments. The goal is to obtain additional funds for local school districts. Orange County Public Schools estimates that it has lost $52 million to $105 million over the seven years Disney has been suing.
▪ Regulation: The board took action to increase oversight of Disney’s operations. The Florida Department of Health will now report and manage incidents at the company’s 267 swimming pools. Disney will also no longer have the “exclusive authority” to acquire, construct and maintain public roads.
▪ Zoning: The board terminated all Planning and Zoning Board members and replaced themselves as the local planning agency.
▪ Vision: The board lists its priorities as affordable and workforce housing; voting rights for future residents; “better traffic solutions for the surrounding county, including transit;” and a reduced “carbon footprint created by the district.” All of those responsibilities are within the routine functions of the special taxing district.
▪ Finances: The board heard from a municipal advisory group, which said that the district was in good financial shape.
▪ Super powers: The board also adopted a resolution that attempts to expand the board’s power by giving it what it calls “superior authority and control” that allows the board to issue development orders within the district and supersede the authority of the two cities, Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, within the district.
▪ Union: The board announced it had made progress on protracted negotiations with the Reedy Creek firefighters union.
This story was originally published April 19, 2023 at 4:37 PM.
