News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[AdventureHasAName]

What tax will they be increasing under your plan?

Permit application fees.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have to say that this is a very nihilistic view of the world that seems to justify a "whatever it takes" approach to politics involving all sorts of circumventing of democratic norms as long as you arrive at the "correct" outcome.

Democratic norms would mean not letting a multinational media conglomerate own its own town in the first place.

 

[DisneyNittany]

I have to say that this is a very nihilistic view of the world that seems to justify a "whatever it takes" approach to politics involving all sorts of circumventing of democratic norms as long as you arrive at the "correct" outcome.

I mean, isn’t the “for the greater good” argument used to justify pretty much every political maneuver anymore?

 

[Andrew C]

I do not. But I wouldn't have any more confidence in their judgment if they had taken three years to study the matter.

I would answer in the same manner for pretty much any piece of legislation. Particularly from the feds.

 

[Brian]

Basically RCID saying... they can't stop our ability to collect taxes/etc until our bond obligations are met.

Damn.. the plot thickens.

So can we stop the hysterics that Orange and Osceola county families are going to be paying ~$2500 extra in taxes now? I suppose not until the next mud-slinging talking point is focus grouped.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Permit application fees.

Permit fees are not a tax and cannot just be increased for Disney. There is a set schedule.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I would answer in the same manner for pretty much any piece of legislation. Particularly from the feds.

Yup. I want them to do as little as possible, because they're bad at pretty much everything besides war. In this case, they're UNdoing something, so I take that as a dub.

 

[DisneyNittany]

Democratic norms would mean not letting a multinational media conglomerate own its own town in the first place.

Ehhhhh would it? Receiving unique tax breaks? Sure. I don’t see how a private company owning land is against Democratic norms.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I would answer in the same manner for pretty much any piece of legislation. Particularly from the feds.

I really don't know what to say. I don't understand this attitude that even if legislators study legislation it will be bad, so they may as well just pass legislation without studying the relevant issues. You really think all the things that work wherever you live just came about by people going with their gut?

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Permit fees are not a tax and cannot just be increased for Disney. There is a set schedule.

And that "set" schedule can be changed by the county legislative body basically at will.

 

[Andrew C]

I really don't know what to say. I don't understand this attitude that even if legislators study legislation it will be bad, so they may as well just pass legislation without studying the relevant issues.

The work of politicians speaks for itself. Legislation is typically poorly written and filled with extra crap, giveaways, loopholes, unintended consequences, and intended consequences that are buried. They pass stuff without studying relevant issues all the time. They pass stuff without even understanding what’s in it. And if they do study, they really don’t care about the results of the study enough to change it because it’s about being re-elected.

Getting off topic here…

 

[Tha Realest]

Anyone have an answer to this?

 

[Tom P.]

View attachment 634666
Anyone have an answer to this?

Somebody has to buy the bonds for them to get that money. And under that circumstance, no one's gonna be buying.

 

[lazyboy97o]

And that "set" schedule can be changed by the county legislative body basically at will.

The county has no interest in going after Disney. Permit fees are typically paid by the contractor, not the owner, are one time payments for a service rendered, not recurring revenue for the general fund. There’s no schedule that will guarantee tens of millions in new general revenue.

 

[KrzyKtty]

Basically RCID saying... they can't stop our ability to collect taxes/etc until our bond obligations are met.

Damn.. the plot thickens.

Sorry, being stupid again. Can you explain what that means a little bit clear? I read the whole thing and I still don't quite get it. Does it mean that they are essentially saying Florida can't do anything until they pay all their debts and since they own a billion dollars that's not going anywhere anytime soon?

Edit

Or is it saying that RCID can keep taxing Disney until it's all paid off?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Ehhhhh would it? Receiving unique tax breaks? Sure. I don’t see how a private company owning land is against Democratic norms.

They don't just own land, they own the GOVERNMENT.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Just watched an interview of the Florida Speaker of the House. He said that Florida government has been looking at the "special tax status for Disney since 2019".

 

[TrojanUSC]

Great thread on this:

 

[CaptainAmerica]

View attachment 634666
Anyone have an answer to this?

RCID bonds are already taxpayer liabilities and Disney is the taxpayer.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

The county has no interest in going after Disney.

In your scenario, the county just inherited Disney's $2 billion debt.

Permit fees are typically paid by the contractor, not the owner, are one time punnets for a service rendered, not recurring revenue for the general fund. There’s no schedule that will guarantee tens of millions in new general revenue.

The main reason RCID exists is so that Disney can avoid going through the county permitting process. This is because, for everyone else, it takes forever and is miserable. The county could absolutely raise permitting fees for large businesses (ie, just Disney) to make up for the increased burden on the permitting office personnel (ie, hire more people) and to pay for the debt it just inherited (in your scenario).