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

[GrumpyFan]

So what is Disney’s benefit here with RCID?

It’s been said by some on here they don’t get a financial break, and may even pay more in taxes.

Many of those same people have also said they don’t get an unusual break in terms of various approvals.

Yet their actions - the development agreement, restrictive covenant, lawsuit - suggests they really wanted to keep the status quo above and beyond the principle of defending themselves.

So what benefits did Disney enjoy through this arrangement?

They have the benefit of being able to build and maintain the 25,000+ acres they bought and own in a manner that's consistent with their standards and needs which are higher than most of the cities and counties in the rest of the state. Essentially, it gives them their own HOA for which they can control what gets built, where it gets built, and how without having the burden of the local government and their red tape. It allowed them to build the property in the late 60s and the infrastructure needed without state or local funding. It allows them now to maintain that same infrastructure without burdening the local government. They tax themselves to build the roads, waterways, emergency services they need and the local taxpayers are relieved of the bill.

Depending on what it is they build, they still have to comply with state and federal regulations.
For example: Building codes, transportation, power & water, etc.

I think the biggest reason they want to keep it so they can continue to build as they please without the hassle of red tape.
Better still, having a board that represents them and their interests is critical to their success. The newly appointed board does not represent them or their interests and seems more interested in restricting and punishing them.

It should be noted there are nearly 1,300 other districts in Florida that have similar independent authority for their community.
Another similar district is Cape Canaveral and the Villages. These function independently to allow the owner and residents to build and maintain the community in was that best meets their needs.

So, what benefit does the state get in taking control? How does that help "level the field"?
For the most part, they get to build as they please, once approved in open public hearings, without interference or red tape. And, why shouldn't they? It's their land. As long as they aren't building anything harmful to the surrounding community, why would the state want to interefere when they've both greatly benefited from the arrangment for more than 50 years.

I may not have all this entirely accurate, and probably mis-stated, but here's my best response as I understand it. There are others here who understand and can explain it MUCH better.
A much better explanation is here:

Walt Disney World’s setup in Florida is, indeed, unusual, but it doesn’t quite make sense to call it a “carve-out.” Properly understood, a “carve-out” is a rule that is applied differently to entities of a similar or identical nature: The Walt Disney Company, for example, enjoys a brazen carve-out in Florida’s tech-regulation bill: an exemption for Disney+ that was not granted to Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max. By contrast, the rules that apply to Walt Disney World could be better described as “tailored,” for, despite the insinuations of many Florida Republicans, Walt Disney World’s accommodation is unique not in its type but only in its particulars. As it happens, Florida has 1,844 special districts, of which 1,288 are, like Walt Disney World, “independent.” The Villages — where Governor DeSantis made his announcement about the review of Walt Disney World’s status — is “independent,” as are Orlando International Airport and the Daytona International Speedway. Clearly, Walt Disney World is a weird place: It is the size of San Francisco, it straddles two counties (Orange and Osceola), and, by necessity, it relies on an infrastructure cache that has been custom-built to its peculiar needs. To claim that the laws that enable this oddity to work represent a “special break” is akin to claiming that the laws that facilitate special installations such as Cape Canaveral or the World Trade Center are “special breaks”: true, in the narrowest sense, but false when examined more closely.

 

[GoofGoof]

He was already in the national spotlight with his landslide election win...and then, it seems he chose the next path poorly...one of life's mysteries I guess...

He certainly did. Then he doubled down and doubled down again and is still doubling down on that poor path. I think he’s hoping for his tin cup moment in the end but the ball keeps landing in the water each time he whiffs badly.

 

[lazyboy97o]

View attachment 713279

Just be honest with us and say you don’t care about the facts, that partisan support is more important to you. Honesty is better than spamming the thread with rants and memes.

 

[donsullivan]

And lest I come across as blindly in support of changing nothing, let me be clear:
- Should the state have a representative for a 2 or 4-year term on the RCID board? Yeah, that’s probably not a bad idea to have one representative on the board to improve transparency.
- With the above in mind, maybe Osceola & Orange County should each have a representative on the board for a similar term, since they are indirectly impacted by virtually everything done within the District.
- The district could never be classified as without flaw, and people can selectively identify errors- But overall, for over half a century it has done far more good than harm. And there is no reason to just blow it up for totally political reasons. The district didn’t do anything wrong, some of you are just mad at Disney for your own tribal reasons and found a way to take out that anger on them without regard for the actual impact of it. Adding some external oversight isn’t by default a bad thing, but you don’t have to blow everything up for revenge to achieve that.

 

[LittleBuford]

Best not to engage, I think.

 

[LAKid53]

They have the benefit of being able to build and maintain the 25,000+ acres they bought and own in a manner that's consistent with their standards and needs which are higher than most of the cities and counties in the rest of the state. Essentially, it gives them their own HOA for which they can control what gets built, where it gets built, and how without having the burden of the local government and their red tape. It allowed them to build the property in the late 60s and the infrastructure needed without state or local funding. It allows them now to maintain that same infrastructure without burdening the local government. They tax themselves to build the roads, waterways, emergency services they need and the local taxpayers are relieved of the bill.

Depending on what it is they build, they still have to comply with state and federal regulations.
For example: Building codes, transportation, power & water, etc.

I think the biggest reason they want to keep it so they can continue to build as they please without the hassle of red tape.
Better still, having a board that represents them and their interests is critical to their success. The newly appointed board does not represent them or their interests and seems more interested in restricting and punishing them.

It should be noted there are nearly 1,300 other districts in Florida that have similar independent authority for their community.
Another similar district is Cape Canaveral and the Villages. These function independently to allow the owner and residents to build and maintain the community in was that best meets their needs.

So, what benefit does the state get in taking control? How does that help "level the field"?
For the most part, they get to build as they please, once approved in open public hearings, without interference or red tape. And, why shouldn't they? It's their land. As long as they aren't building anything harmful to the surrounding community, why would the state want to interefere when they've both greatly benefited from the arrangent for more than 50 years.

Some permits still have to be filed with SFWMD and DEP, depending on the type of project.

 

[Jimmyzlc]

Wow. If you actually believe this you probably ought to do some reading (away from here) to get the actual facts on how and why Reedy Creek was created and how the Florida Supreme County has upheld the need and benefit from it multiple times over the decades. You are listening to the ‘talking points’ about taxes and don’t understand that they actually pay more than the other competitors so that I as a taxpayer don’t have to pay to build their roads, water treatment plants, power facilities, etc.. Did they derive ‘benefit’ from this structure, yes- but the residents of the surrounding counties also derived benefit by not having to pay for all the services needed to support the vast development they’ve done over the last half century.

As someone directly impacted by this mess, (both my job and my home) it makes me crazy when people flippantly throw out talking points without doing the homework to learn all of the facts of the whole thing.

And from what I understand now. Everyone of those residents taxes will be going through the roof. I guess when you completely control a state you can screw everyone.

 

[OceanBlue]

Read all 77 pages of the lawsuit today,

So, you’re telling me the RCID wasn’t a monetary advantage for Disney…Disney took a monetary hit in Florida on that deal…?!

it’s more than than that, it’s the bubble it’s the whole aesthetic

 

[JAB]

He certainly did. Then he doubled down and doubled down again and is still doubling down on that poor path. I think he’s hoping for his tin cup moment in the end but the ball keeps landing in the water each time he whiffs badly.

Like with KFC, "double down" is something that some may think is a good idea at first, but ultimately come to regret.



ETA: For those who might not know what KFC has to do with DeSantis's ill-advised strategy of doubling down, the KFC Double Down is a ridiculous "sandwich" consisting of cheese and bacon between two fried chicken cutlets instead of bread which I'm guessing has led to much gastronomical regret.

 

[LAKid53]

And lest I come across as blindly in support of changing nothing, let me be clear:
- Should the state have a representative for a 2 or 4-year term on the RCID board? Yeah, that’s probably not a bad idea to have one representative on the board to improve transparency.
- With the above in mind, maybe Osceola & Orange County should each have a representative on the board for a similar term, since they are indirectly impacted by virtually everything done within the District.
- The district could never be classified as without flaw, and people can selectively identify errors- But overall, for over half a century it has done far more good than harm. And there is no reason to just blow it up for totally political reasons. The district didn’t do anything wrong, some of you are just mad at Disney for your own tribal reasons and found a way to take out that anger on them without regard for the actual impact of it. Adding some external oversight isn’t by default a bad thing, but you don’t have to blow everything up for revenge to achieve that.

I would agree with allowing the state and both counties to appoint members to the Board. However, I would also want to see some type of qualifications in the statute for members appointed by state and local government to the Board. Civil engineers, biologists, land use attorney, etc. People who have the expertise to make real contributions.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Some permits still have to be filed with SFWMD and DEP, depending on the type of project.

Thanks for the addition there.
I've seen those, and used to skim their web-sites on a regular basis looking for clues at what Disney was building next. Pretty cool, but usually vague, at least to my un-trained eyes.

 

[donsullivan]

I assumed he was being ironic right? Making a joke. I thought it was funny

Edit: never mind….I read that one wrong. Should have kept reading first before posting

This is past accepting that people are trying to be ‘funny’. it is directly affecting people’s livelihoods when everyone in RCID has to pay higher taxes as a result of all this recent theater. When International Travelers decide to stay away for a while in case ’something goes wrong’. When the people just trying to do their jobs in various roles within RCID are experiencing threats from people blindly listening to the silly talking points (I know people personally who have experienced this). When those of us in Orange County are at risk of 20%+ property tax increases if this whole thing gets blown up and the county has to absorb the bond debt.

The impact of this is because of ridiculous tribal politics and flippantly throwing around talking points instead of looking for actual facts. All of this has an impact on peoples jobs, their homes and their families- all so one tribe can ‘OWN’ the others with aggressive misinformation campaigns. Please just get the facts when jumping into this and stop throwing around ‘talking points’ that are not backed up by real facts.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This whole thread cracks me up.
Disney got corporate welfare from Florida decades ago. I thought most were against that. I don’t care about the manner in which the revoking of that was initiated, but, Disney (a corporation) now has to “Pay its fair share”, as the current administration is so “bent” on repeating. Creepy whisper it to us again, Brandon.
Wow, what a travesty…

Hey genius…

The money generated by Disney has paid for about half of modern Florida

…Lockheed gets corporate welfare…and J.P. Morgan…

Try to keep up

 

[donsullivan]

I would agree with allowing the state and both counties to appoint members to the Board. However, I would also want to see some type of qualifications in the statute for members appointed by state and local government to the Board. Civil engineers, biologists, land use attorney, etc. People who have the expertise to make real contributions.

Yeah, you can put some guardrails around the skills appropriate for the role which I know the local counties would not have a problem with.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

For some reason I don't think Ron is going to listen to what McCarthy has to say.

Ron better find an exit ramp because he has bitten off way more than he can chew. We all like to make fun of Disney, but Disney is a Fortune 500 corporation that is also the most powerful media empire in the world. He is way out of his league.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I would agree with allowing the state and both counties to appoint members to the Board. However, I would also want to see some type of qualifications in the statute for members appointed by state and local government to the Board. Civil engineers, biologists, land use attorney, etc. People who have the expertise to make real contributions.

I think something like this would have been a nice balance to both the previous RCID board that favored Disney's interests almost entirely and the newly appointed CFTOD that seems to be interested only in doing the will of the governor, which is to punish Disney.
Also, those proposals (yours, plus @donsullivan's) would actually make them more representative of the name given to them.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Read all 77 pages of the lawsuit today,

it’s more than than that, it’s the bubble it’s the whole aesthetic

Indeed, they have their own weather machine that rains for them and the state.

 

[Stripes]

I really hope someone goes the meeting on Monday to give the board a piece of their mind.

It’d be a waste of time, but a bright spot in all of our days.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I really hope someone goes the meeting on Monday to give the board a piece of their mind.

It’d be a waste of time, but a bright spot in all of our days.

Someone on this forum was saying they would, and I hope they do and we all watch - hah!

 

[castlecake2.0]

Someone on this forum was saying they would, and I hope they do and we all watch - hah!

I spoke out at the meeting on the 19th, obviously they didn’t give a