The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday reached a settlement agreement with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Supervisory District over the autonomous special tax district that the company canceled. new york post report.
Disney filed a complaint with the governor in April seeking to revoke the theme park’s corporate-selected board and special taxing district, the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney ruled the area for decades. In 2022, the disbanded RCID board was succeeded by DeSantis’ new five-member oversight board, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney accused the governor and several Florida officials of launching a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against the company. The complaint said DeSantis had previously expressed a desire to “nullify” Disney’s development agreement with the state and investigate taxes and “road tolls” on theme park hotels.
Disney’s court filing reads: “Today’s action is the latest strike. By order of the Governor, the state Board of Supervisors laid the groundwork for Disney’s billions and thousands of dollars in investments. , it claimed to “nullify” a development agreement that had been publicly notified and formally agreed upon. work. ”
The company argued that the governor’s actions ultimately “put it at risk.”[d]While Disney threatens “the economic future of the region,”[ing] That constitutional right. ”
An investigation conducted by CFTOD found evidence that the former RCID board spent millions of taxpayer dollars to purchase resort passes, merchandise and other perks from Disney.
“For decades, the former Disney-operated RCID has used taxpayer funds to provide season passes and amusement experiences to employees and their families, to cover the cost of hotel, merchandise, food and beverage discounts, and to board members We have given VIP access to the main entrance,” CFTOD claimed. “In 2022 alone, the cost to taxpayers exceeded $2.5 million.”
On Wednesday, Disney dropped its lawsuit against DeSantis, agreed to cede autonomy to the theme park district and waived another lawsuit over access to public records. Instead, both parties decided to work together to conclude a new development agreement for the theme park.
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the district’s new leadership,” Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahr said, the Post reported.
Mr. DeSantis declared that the Disney settlement vindicated his administration.
“A year ago, people were trying to act like all these legal maneuvers were all going to be successful, but the reality a year later is that none of them are,” he said. “Every action we have taken has been fully supported and has made our state better.”
As part of the settlement, DeSantis appointed a “sympathetic” CFTOD director to Disney, the Post noted.Earlier this week, the governor’s office announced that Craig Mattia, founder of CCM Capital Group, be appointed as a director.
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