In a move widely seen as revenge, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked Florida lawmakers on Tuesday to consider “ending” Disney World’s self-government privileges in the Orlando area for 55 years. He acted after Disney, the state’s largest private employer, stopped political donations in Florida and condemned a new state education law that opponents call “Don’t Say Gay.”
The Florida Legislature was already scheduled to convene this week for a special session to redirect Congress. On Tuesday, a Republican, Mr. DeSantis, issued a proclamation allowing the Republican-controlled body to pass bills that would eliminate special tax districts created before 1968.
Florida has hundreds of such areas, but almost all were created after that date – with one exception, covering Disney World. It was established in 1967 and essentially allows the mega-resort, which employs about 80,000 people, to function as its own municipal administration.
Disney’s special area is called the Reedy Creek Improvement District and gives the company significant control over the planning and permitting process for its 25,000-acre property, including road construction. Reedy Creek also imposes taxes on Disney to pay for the resort’s own fire and medical battalions, among other services. Disney World even generates some of its own electricity through Reedy Creek.
Mr. DeSantis and Disney began arguing publicly last month after the company condemned the Parental Rights in Education Act, which, among other things, restricts the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms.
“Our goal as a company is to repeal this law or reject it in court, and we remain committed to supporting national and government organizations working to achieve this,” Disney said on March 28, when Mr. DeSantis signed the law in law. (Initially, Disney tried not to take part in the measure, at least publicly, which provoked a riot of employees.)
In response, Mr DeSantis targeted Disney, reprimanding him as “awake” and sending a fundraising email to supporters, saying he had “lost all moral authority to tell you what to do”. Then several Florida lawmakers began threatening to abolish the Disney World Special Tax Area.
Disney declined to comment on Tuesday.
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