Why is Governor DeSantis ending the Disney special?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that he has signed a bill that will remove Disney’s self-governing status in the state.

The law effectively removes Disney’s control of the Reedy Creek beautification area. The district was created in 1967 and received the same powers as the district government. It was part of an agreement between Disney and the state to turn 38.5 square miles of virtually uninhabited pasture and marshland into one of the largest tourist attractions in the world.

The district has its own fire department, police and other municipal services.

What is the Reedy Creek Improvement District?

This gave landowners in the area the ability to run their own county government. Since Disney is the main landowner in the county, it has the most influence on how the government works.

In addition to providing basic security and municipal services, it can collect its own taxes and set its own zoning laws. This means that Disney had wide power in the county.

The county is governed by a five-member supervisory board elected by the landowners.

Why is DeSantis taking it over?

DeSantis argues that a private company is not accountable to the public and therefore should have the same rules as other companies. He said the previous arrangement gave Disney “preferential treatment”.

“Letting a corporation control its own government is bad policy, especially when a corporation is making decisions that affect the entire region,” DeSantis said. “This law removes Disney’s self-governing status, forces Disney to live by the same laws as everyone else, and ensures that Disney pays its debts and its fair share of taxes.”

Tensions between Disney and DeSantis escalated last year when the company took a stand against the education parental rights bill. A law passed in 2022 placed restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. Opponents called this law the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Bob Chapek, then the CEO of Disney, spoke out against the parental rights in education bill amid protests from workers.

What will happen next?

DeSantis appointed his own five-member board for the new state-controlled area. The five conservative members of the new Central Florida Tourism Authority will take office June 1, pending confirmation by the Florida Senate.

In essence, this group will be tasked with forming a new municipal government.