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

[rio]

Depends on how punitive the taxes and special assessments levied by the state of Florida would be, assuming it was deemed constitutional. Don’t want to change your entire corporate structure to stop “wokeness”, tax rate of 50% for you. It was already 50, let’s make it 60.

Assuming Disney was forced to pay for the entire debt load of RCID as well, I could totally see Disney making the parks unprofitable and declaring bankruptcy to close them down. State of Florida’s asking for the ability to govern a company or pay punitive fines if they don’t comply, but they can’t stop them from simply not operating or existing.

 

[Lilofan]

I don’t know where you’re pulling those numbers from but you’re incorrect. Walt Disney World itself makes more than 11.4B. In 2019, out of state visitors alone spent nearly $100 billion in Florida.

That’s why FL residents pay no state income tax, thanks to tourism.

 

[GoofGoof]

All true. The issue will be the provisions of emergency services. Those stations & equipment are owned by RCID. If it ceases to exist - not just be reconfigured - what happens to those buildings and equipment? The reason RCID can respond so quickly to emergencies is because they are right there on property. Orange County FD and ambulance services are not. Does TWDC then lease the buildings, trucks, ambulances, etc., to Orange County?

Yeah, the logistical challenges are extensive. Even just creating a new district with a similar setup will take time. Lots of contracts to amend and other challenges. If the plan is to eliminate the district with no replacement they would need much more time. Probably several years.

On this topic I actually think if the state really believed RCID created an unfair advantage to Disney and needed to go they could have dissolved it the right way which would have been over many years. They could have worked with the local community and the counties to figure out the plan on transition. They could have worked with Disney as well to come up with a less disruptive plan. We all know this wasn’t a well thought out plan, it’s an attack attempting to punish so none of that happened. We also know that politically, the people pushing this plan are not politically concerned with Orange County so are not all that broken up over inconveniencing them.

 

[LAKid53]

I don’t know where you’re pulling those numbers from but you’re incorrect. Walt Disney World itself makes more than 11.4B. In 2019, out of state visitors alone spent nearly $100 billion in Florida.

Those are the tax, not gross revenues, reported. Which is what the state needs for budgetary purposes.

 

[LAKid53]

That’s why FL residents pay no state income tax, thanks to tourism.

No, Floridians don't pay income tax because the Florida Constitution prohibits a state income tax. And that prohibition was in place before WDW was built.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Again, that will require an amendment to the Florida Constitution proposed by the FL Legislature. They won't do it, it would be political suicide. And even if it got on the ballot, it would be overwhelmingly defeated. Retirees move to Florida, not just for the weather, but for the lack of a state income tax.

Florida Constitution prohibits a state income tax. Voters would have to approve that amendment. They won't.

Voters vote against their own self-interests all the time. People are stupid. They raise sales tax on themselves, vote for morons, etc.

Tourism and the cheap labor it employs statewide is the #1 industry in the state.

Formerly cheap labor.

 

[peter11435]

Those are the tax, not gross revenues, reported. Which is what the state needs for budgetary purposes.

Then you are still incorrect. Tennessee did not collect anywhere near that much in tourism related taxes. You’re comparing apples to oranges.

 

[LAKid53]

Quote it

What Are The Biggest Industries In Florida?

Florida’s economy is undoubtedly one of the country's economic powerhouses. Learn about Florida's major industries in this article.

www.worldatlas.com

Much of those stats are out of date.

 

[LAKid53]

Voters vote against their own self-interests all the time. People are stupid. They raise sales tax on themselves, vote for morons, etc.

Those increases on sales taxes were by county, not the entire state. And had to be for very specific purposes outlined in the ballot measures - schools, roads and other important infrastructure. That increase is limited by law and has an expiration. A state wide measure to impose a state sales tax won't pass. They couldn't get a services tax into law. What makes you think an income tax will pass with 60% approval?

 

[Lilofan]

No, Floridians don't pay income tax because the Florida Constitution prohibits a state income tax. And that prohibition was in place before WDW was built.

You don’t think the $100billion FL collects from guests in 2019 helps so FL residents don’t have to pay state income tax? I’m pretty sure if those billions don’t come in to support FL that paying state income tax will into play.

 

[LAKid53]

Then you are still incorrect. Tennessee did not collect anywhere near that much in tourism related taxes. You’re comparing apples to oranges.

Then Tennessee's tourism board is misreporting.

 

[LAKid53]

You don’t think the $100billion FL collects from guests in 2019 helps so FL residents don’t have to pay state income tax? I’m pretty sure if those billions don’t come in to support FL that paying state income tax will into play.

That's not what I said. You inferred that no state income tax exists because of tourism. I'm telling you that the lack of a state income tax existed prior to Florida becoming a major tourist destination....when agriculture, primarily the citrus industry...was the major source of revenue for the state.

 

[SaucyBoy]

No, it won't. Florida existed prior to WDW. It however, will need to find another source of revenue to replace what WDW generates for the state.

Oh please, you’re being so naive. Florida wouldn’t be the vacation juggernaut it is today if it wasn’t for Disney. It would be another poor southern state covered in swamp land like Mississippi or Louisiana with nothing going for it except maybe some cultural centers along either coasts.

 

[GoofGoof]

Depends on how punitive the taxes and special assessments levied by the state of Florida would be, assuming it was deemed constitutional. Don’t want to change your entire corporate structure to stop “wokeness”, tax rate of 50% for you. It was already 50, let’s make it 60.

Assuming Disney was forced to pay for the entire debt load of RCID as well, I could totally see Disney making the parks unprofitable and declaring bankruptcy to close them down. State of Florida’s asking for the ability to govern a company or pay punitive fines if they don’t comply, but they can’t stop them from simply not operating or existing.

The debt is a drop in the bucket for Disney. They were going to pay it back anyway over time with tax payments to RCID so even if the state somehow found a way to legally make them pay the bonds back it would just be a timing difference. They won’t bankrupt a business making billions to avoid paying less than a billion in debt sooner than expected.

Even a new special district not under Disney control would need to justify their expenditures and follow applicable law. They can’t just tax Disney and then use the money for other purposes. The main issue for Disney would be lack of control over quality and cost. They would no longer control fire services and EMS so the new district could decide to cut corners and have less equipment or less personnel. Same with road repairs or expansion projects. I think the zoning benefit is more hype than actual benefit. If anything Disney is following more stringent codes than what would be required by the state. It’s an easy talking point to say Disney is avoiding code and zoning regulations but it’s not really true. Just likes it’s easy to say they are not paying their fair share of taxes when in reality they pay more than most other taxpayers.

 

[peter11435]

Then Tennessee's tourism board is misreporting.

No. You’re just misreading. They clearly said total tourism revenue was 24.2B but tax revenue from tourism was $1.9B.

 

[GoofGoof]

Oh please, you’re being so naive. Florida wouldn’t be the vacation juggernaut it is today if it wasn’t for Disney. It would be another poor southern state covered in swamp land like Mississippi or Louisiana with nothing going for it except maybe some cultural centers along either coasts.

FL does have beaches too, but certainly central FL would not be what it is today.

 

[SaucyBoy]

FL does have beaches too, but certainly central FL would not be what it is today.

I know, I lived there for 5 years. That’s why I said minus the coastal areas

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think the zoning benefit is more hype than actual benefit. If anything Disney is following more stringent codes than what would be required by the state. It’s an easy talking point to say Disney is avoiding code and zoning regulations but it’s not really true.

Zoning Codes and Building Codes are two very different things. Disney does effectively avoid zoning regulations.

 

[JoeCamel]

Zoning Codes and Building Codes are two very different things. Disney does effectively avoid zoning regulations.

They need to lobby the counties to get the TP zoning established before they need it. With that as an available category they have a fall back position.

 

[LAKid53]

They’d have to find some way to make up the lost revenue.

Which no one is disagreeing with. Florida has had this problem ever since tourism comprised a significant, if not the primary source, of its state revenues. As discretionary dollars spent, those revenues are subject to the fluctuations of the economy. Which 8s why the state needs to push for other industries NOT related to the service sector. With a corporate income tax of 5.5%, the state can attract different industries, provide the political climate and education/skill level of residents meets the needs of prospective businesses. In addition, the state universities important to the economy, especially in cutting edge research.

Oh please, you’re being so naive. Florida wouldn’t be the vacation juggernaut it is today if it wasn’t for Disney. It would be another poor southern state covered in swamp land like Mississippi or Louisiana with nothing going for it except maybe some cultural centers along either coasts.

Aerospace and agriculture aren't disappearing. And unlike you, I live in this state and did state budgeting for 20+ years.