ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis buried the Reedy Creek Special Precinct, as it has been known until now, and ended the so-called self-governing Walt Disney World, which operates in that area. Florida area.
Legislation passed by the Florida Congress awaited only the governor’s signature. Now, as just happened, it will be the governor who appoints a five-member council to oversee government services provided at Disney properties.
The governor had until March 14, 2023 to act on the bill, and on Monday he appointed a five-member council that will oversee the government services the district provides on company properties in Florida.
WHAT CHANGES WITH THIS LAW
According to information shared by the Florida government, Disney’s self-government status in this area has ended and “Florida law is being imposed so that Disney no longer receives preferential treatment.”
The district will be subject to varying levels of state oversight and board members will not be appointed by entities controlled by Disney.
It also bars people who have worked or been hired at a theme park in the past three years from serving on the district’s new board.
The district must provide zoning, fire protection, utility, and infrastructure services on its land in accordance with state regulations. This ends Disney’s exemption from the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
Waivers of state regulatory reviews and approvals for Disney are removed.
According to the Florida government, this measure ensures that Disney’s municipal debt will be paid by the company.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL QUARTERS
Florida defines a special district as “a unit of local government created for a special purpose, as opposed to a general purpose, that has jurisdiction to operate within a limited geographic boundary and is created by general statute, special statute, ordinance local or by rule of the Governor and Cabinet”.
WHAT IS REEDY CREEK DISTRICT AND WHY DISNEY CONTROLS IT
The Reedy Creek Special District is a private government controlled by Disney World and established by the state legislature in 1967 which enables it to provide government services such as zoning, fire protection, utilities and infrastructure .
The creation of the district, and the control it gave Disney over 27,000 acres (11,000 hectares) between Orange and Osceola counties in Florida, was a crucial element in the company’s construction projects near Orlando in the 1960s. Company officials said they needed autonomy to plan a futuristic city with the theme park, which would include a public transportation system and innovations in planning, so the company needed autonomy to build and decide how to use the land. However, the city never materialized. Instead, it was turned into an EPCOT theme park.
The District of Reedy Creek manages water and sewer, electrical, highway, and fire services for the district. It also pays the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.
HOW THE CHANGES COULD IMPACT THE REEDY CREEK SPECIAL DISTRICT
According to Reedy Creek’s 2021 annual financial report, the district has long-term bond debt of $977,215,801.
Eliminating the Special District of Reedy Creek could leave Orange and Osceola counties shouldering the district’s nearly $1 billion debt, as required by Florida law.
It would also leave local governments, Orange and Osceola, responsible for water and sewer services, electricity, roads, fire and law enforcement.
The state legislature’s analysis acknowledges that the bill will have an “undetermined fiscal impact” on both residents and businesses currently in the special district, and local governments that will have to assume control of the lands. of the district. .
HOW THE BILL CAME IN
The process of changing the district in which Disney operates began last year when the company publicly opposed legislation dubbed “Don’t Say Gay”, which prohibits teaching about sexual orientation and identity. kindergarten to grade three and classes deemed not age-appropriate.
Disney said in a statement that the rule “should never have passed” and at the same time apologized to its employees for remaining silent and choosing to campaign against the law “behind the scenes.”
Shortly before the law was enacted, Disney executive chairman Bob Chapek announced that the company was canceling its large political donations to Florida, according to EFE.
The governor went so far as to say Disney’s statement was “dishonest” and “crossed a line.”
DeSantis moved to punish the company, ordering lawmakers to dissolve the district in a special legislative session in April, launching a closely watched restructuring process.
Republican critics of the district argued that the district gave Disney a business advantage not available to others.