TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Gov. Ron DeSantis stated the state, slightly than any native authorities, would take management of a taxing district that advantages Walt Disney Co. when the district is dissolved subsequent yr.
But particulars of methods to deal with the Reedy Creek Improvement District will probably be resolved after new legislative leaders take their positions following the November elections, DeSantis stated throughout an look Monday at Seminole State College of Florida.
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“We’re working on some proposals. I think we’ve got pretty much what we want to do,” DeSantis stated. “But I’m going to work with the legislative leaders, who are going to come in after the election, to make sure that we’re all in agreement.”
Lawmakers final month, at DeSantis’ request, voted to dissolve Reedy Creek as of June 2023. That got here after Disney opposed a controversial new regulation that restricts training about gender id and sexual orientation in public faculties — a measure that critics dubbed the “don’t say gay” invoice.
Lawmakers final month didn’t element what businesses would decide up the companies offered by Reedy Creek or who could be liable for its debt, which has been estimated to prime $1 billion. DeSantis put the debt determine at $766 million.
State regulation requires that when particular districts are abolished, their belongings and liabilities go to native governments. But DeSantis stated native governments won’t decide up the Reedy Creek debt or management district property.
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“That debt will not end up going to any of these as local governments, it’s not going to go to the state government either,” DeSantis stated. “It’s going to absolutely be dealt with (by) the taxpayers who are currently in that district.”
The governor contended state management would shield residents in Central Florida.
“I’d much rather have the state leading that effort, than potentially having local governments,” DeSantis stated. “First of all, it’d be a cash cow for them if they had Disney. But I’m worried that they would use that as a pretext to raise taxes on people, when that’s what they would want to do anyways, and then try to blame Reedy Creek.”
Encompassing 38.5 miles in Osceola and Orange counties, Reedy Creek was created to permit Disney to deal with points from land use and wastewater companies to fireside safety and transportation with out interference from native governments.
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