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

[lazyboy97o]

I kind of get the "Disney denies" stuff in the beginning, and get the "Counts" at the end...but what does the "Affirmative Defense" stuff do in the middle (and I've never even heard the phrase "Equitable estoppel")?
This whole thing is turning into one big mess!

That's where Disney defended their position in the matter.

Estop is basically that you can't go back on promises. This is a case where Wikipedia can be helpful and the first example used is pretty much this case.

Estoppel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The District is arguing that the contracts are void because the proper procedures were not followed, but they are actually the party that they allege did not follow proper procedure. They play games in their argument by using the District's two different names to make it as though different parties were involved, but legally they are one and the same entity. Contracts are supposed to be binding and you're not allowed to just get out of them because you later decide otherwise even if you did make an error. Disney is not allowed to nullify Universal Orlando's contract with Marvel even though they now own Marvel or even if they found out that Marvel did something wrong in making the deal.

 

[DCBaker]

The CFTOD has issued a new press release about a referral to the Florida Inspector General about an alleged scheme giving "perks and benefits" to district employees and their family members.

Referral Made to Inspector General Regarding Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Disney as Season Passes
Scheme that Funneled $2.5M Back to Disney Each Year Also Paid for Merchandise, Hotels, Cruises, and Food

Today, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has submitted a referral to the Florida Inspector General regarding millions of dollars’ worth of perks and benefits that the former Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District funneled back to Disney.

For decades, the former Disney-run RCID used taxpayer funds to provide season passes and amusement experiences to its employees and their family members, cover the cost of discounts on hotels, merchandise, food, and beverages, and give its own board members VIP Main Entrance passes. In 2022 alone, it cost taxpayers over $2.5 million.

In addition to constituting unethical benefits and perks, the scheme raises significant questions regarding self-dealing as the board members were only permitted a maximum of $100 per month in compensation per the Reedy Creek Improvement District Act.

The latest bill sent to CFTOD from Disney features a charge of $492,382.96 for “Q1 FY22 Tickets.” The scheme included the RCID government paying for “discounts” enjoyed by employees on all Disney purchases. Line items include government-paid handouts for “Merchandise Discount Usage” ($16,837.39), “Food & Beverage Discount Usage” ($4,969.52), and “Water Parks Discount Usage” ($3,764.48). It also includes employee handouts for hotel usage at the Disney Yacht Club Resort, Disney Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney Coronado Springs Resort. The bill can be viewed here.

Immediately upon discovering the scheme, the CFTOD set in motion plans to eliminate it. All CFTOD employees who require access to Disney premises to perform their official duties will still be able to access them.

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES - Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES Scheme that Funneled $2.5M Back to Disney Each Year Also Paid for […]

www.rcid.org

 

[LAKid53]

The CFTOD has issued a new press release about a referral to the Florida Inspector General about "perks and benefits" for district employees and their family members.

Referral Made to Inspector General Regarding Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Disney as Season Passes
Scheme that Funneled $2.5M Back to Disney Each Year Also Paid for Merchandise, Hotels, Cruises, and Food

Today, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has submitted a referral to the Florida Inspector General regarding millions of dollars’ worth of perks and benefits that the former Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District funneled back to Disney.

For decades, the former Disney-run RCID used taxpayer funds to provide season passes and amusement experiences to its employees and their family members, cover the cost of discounts on hotels, merchandise, food, and beverages, and give its own board members VIP Main Entrance passes. In 2022 alone, it cost taxpayers over $2.5 million.

In addition to constituting unethical benefits and perks, the scheme raises significant questions regarding self-dealing as the board members were only permitted a maximum of $100 per month in compensation per the Reedy Creek Improvement District Act.

The latest bill sent to CFTOD from Disney features a charge of $492,382.96 for “Q1 FY22 Tickets.” The scheme included the RCID government paying for “discounts” enjoyed by employees on all Disney purchases. Line items include government-paid handouts for “Merchandise Discount Usage” ($16,837.39), “Food & Beverage Discount Usage” ($4,969.52), and “Water Parks Discount Usage” ($3,764.48). It also includes employee handouts for hotel usage at the Disney Yacht Club Resort, Disney Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney Coronado Springs Resort. The bill can be viewed here.

Immediately upon discovering the scheme, the CFTOD set in motion plans to eliminate it. All CFTOD employees who require access to Disney premises to perform their official duties will still be able to access them.

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES - Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES Scheme that Funneled $2.5M Back to Disney Each Year Also Paid for […]

www.rcid.org

And employees NEVER get government rates for hotels, meals, rental cars. Disney tickets way back when....

 

[mmascari]

it cost taxpayers over $2.5 million.

This the best type of misdirection. It's technically true, while giving the wrong impression. Since, certainly, the taxpayers should be upset by this wasteful spending, and we're all taxpayers right? Right?

If they had written "it cost taxpayers to RCID over $2.5 million" it would lose some if it's impact. As people began think, "I don't pay taxes to RCID, so it's some other taxpayer that should be concerned". If it was clear that the taxpayers to RCID all voted and desired to spend the money this way, it would lose a lot of the PR impact.

 

[wdwmagic]

Every time they write a "press release" it just comes off as so petty and petulant.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This the best type of misdirection. It's technically true, while giving the wrong impression. Since, certainly, the taxpayers should be upset by this wasteful spending, and we're all taxpayers right? Right?

If they had written "it cost taxpayers to RCID over $2.5 million" it would lose some if it's impact. As people began think, "I don't pay taxes to RCID, so it's some other taxpayer that should be concerned". If it was clear that the taxpayers to RCID all voted and desired to spend the money this way, it would lose a lot of the PR impact.

And isn't it amazing how the only time the taxpayers have voiced concern is over their plans?

 

[flynnibus]

Immediately upon discovering the scheme, the CFTOD set in motion plans to eliminate it. All CFTOD employees who require access to Disney premises to perform their official duties will still be able to access them.

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES - Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

REFERRAL MADE TO INSPECTOR GENERAL REGARDING SCHEME TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISNEY AS SEASON PASSES Scheme that Funneled $2.5M Back to Disney Each Year Also Paid for […]

www.rcid.org

Bet those firefighters are rethinking their rah-rahs now!

And the rest of the staff I bet are LOVING life with this transparency! Employment perks? NOT FOR YOU!

 

[flynnibus]

"scheme to funnel millions"

That's right folks... your generous employer is now just "scheming" when they give you gym perks, phone discounts, and crazy ideas like Health Insurance.

Company store? BIGGEST SCHEME EVER!!! OPEN THE BOOKS!

 

[flynnibus]

 

[flynnibus]

 

[drnilescrane]

Disney offers those same terms, at the same price, to all of their Central Florida partners (including operating participants). Some choose to offer the benefits, some don't. I think RCID threatened to take it away from the firefighters in a previous negotiation.

I would be upset as a district employee to loose my MEP in a poor attempt to create a distraction from my management's blatant ethics violation.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Lol!

That’s great…love the mud slinging

 

[flynnibus]

I would be upset as a district employee to loose my MEP in a poor attempt to create a distraction from my management's blatant ethics violation.

Imagine being the accountant who has to brief these bozos on the line items and watch them meltdown while you try to explain the normalcy of it.

 

[wdwmagic]

It is almost like the entire board of CFTOD have zero experience in anything to do with theme parks and large organizations like Disney. Oh wait...

 

[JoeCamel]

Every time they write a "press release" it just comes off as so petty and petulant.

They all come off as if Glenn personally wrote them. He probably did. 400K to a chair of a podunk development district while the Governor gets 140K? That should be investigated and the taxpayers of the district should demand it!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Imagine being the accountant who has to brief these bozos on the line items and watch them meltdown while you try to explain the normalcy of it.

Even better is how from their telling they didn’t bother to look into employee benefits and payments until months after taking office. Every “Gotcha!” just makes them look even more clueless.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It is almost like the entire board of CFTOD have zero experience in anything to do with theme parks and large organizations like Disney. Oh wait...

My thoughts exactly. It’s like a circus full of clowns

 

[afterabme]

Yeesh, going into cast connections it would be pretty common to see RCFD or Reedy Creek employees shopping there.

 

[Figgy1]

My thoughts exactly. It’s like a circus full of clowns

 

[tissandtully]

Imagine being the accountant who has to brief these bozos on the line items and watch them meltdown while you try to explain the normalcy of it.

No, you see, everything they don't like is a government conspiracy