tissandtully
Well-Known Member
Honestly glad the firefighters are losing their privileges, they asked for this by supporting this clown show
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News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
- Thread starter castlecake2.0
- Start date
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
No concerns about a conflict of interest there? Did some of the people receiving these benefits not approve permits, etc. for the Disney Co? Just asking a question...
JAB
Well-Known Member
They're trying to make it seem like Disney made some shady under-the-table deal to embezzle money from FL citizens by saying "taxpayers", but the district's expenditures are public record, and the taxpayers in the District are 90% Disney or Disney-owned holding companies anyway, so Disney is the one paying for it. What a "scheme!" 
flynnibus
Premium Member
Disney wasn't giving them anything... clearly the district was paying for it. And has been noted similar programs are offered to other partners in the Disney ecosystem.
tissandtully
Well-Known Member
Are you concerned that the firefighters would... fight fires for Disney?
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
I see, thanks for the information...and I would assume they were paying Disney using the raised tax dollars that the district received (which are mostly from Disney...) because, how else could they pay. Anyways, doesn't seem like anything...
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Reedy Creek Improvement District has long had a reputation for being the strictest building authority in Central Florida. That was a separation Disney knew not to cross.
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 guess who the major taxpayer to RCID was....
Or law. In spite of the fact that 3 of the Board are lawyers....
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
Nope!
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
Guess under who's authority the office of Inspector General falls and guess who appoints the Inspector General....
Clearly the Board isn't running the OCTOD. It's doing the bidding of someone else.
flynnibus
Premium Member
I'd love to see the lawyer that would actually put name to paper to suggest legal action against Disney for this one. Maybe it's all a scheme so Disney can sue for expenses and get paid millions in taxpayer dollars for that too!!!
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Anyone want to entertain that this has all been a half-@ssed, not thought out political stunt to raise cash from a dying breed of rubes from the start?
…lemme know when that hits home?
…lemme know when that hits home?
If you look at Gilzean's CV, governors sure like to appoint him to a lot of boards:
DeSantis:
Chair of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention State Advisory Group (2022);
Florida Census Complete Count Committee and the Re-Open Florida Task Force Industry Working Group (2020);
Florida Commission on Ethics (2019).
Former Governor Rick Scott:
Pinellas County School Board (2012);
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (2013);
Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (2016).
You'd think somewhere along the way Glenn would have learned a thing or two...
tissandtully
Well-Known Member
I mean I've got some theories, but may be too spicy for this forum
tissandtully
Well-Known Member
Of all the things they've been upset about, no one has raised the proposition of maybe NOT paying the administrator $400k a year, which is absolutely an insane salary. And yes the previous guy prob shouldn't have got that either, but it's telling this has never been brought up and shows what a ruse this is
James Alucobond
Well-Known Member
drnilescrane
Well-Known Member
He's useful for deflecting a certain type of criticism.
JAB
Well-Known Member
Not really. Disney was not gifting the passes to the district, the district was choosing to spend part of their budget on employee benefits. The fact that Disney is ultimately paying for it is irrelevant, because it was the district's decision and the board could have chosen to spend that money on other things. And if anyone thinks "But Disney controls the board, so they forced them buy passes for the district employees."... if that were the case, and Disney had that much direct control over the board, why would they need to "bribe" the district with theme park passes?
You know what is a very explicitly-defined (by law) conflict of interest, though? Sitting on the State Ethics Commission while holding a government position.
Stripes
Premium Member
Disney isn’t in any trouble here. At most, the old board is.
In my mind, the only potentially problematic aspect is the VIP passes for the board. The RCID charter states that the board shall be entitled to receive $25 per day of work up to a maximum of $100 per month. Have to imagine those VIP passes were worth more than $1,200 per year.
Anyone have more information about this aspect?
In my mind, the only potentially problematic aspect is the VIP passes for the board. The RCID charter states that the board shall be entitled to receive $25 per day of work up to a maximum of $100 per month. Have to imagine those VIP passes were worth more than $1,200 per year.
Anyone have more information about this aspect?