Florida House’s Vote to Dissolve Disney’s Special District Could Raise Taxes for Residents

If the governor ​​signs the bill into law, the Reedy Creek Improvement District would be dissolved effective June 1, 2023, like other similar districts.

After 55 years, Walt Disney World’s days of self government may be numbered, after the Florida House of Representatives on Thursday gave final passage to a bill that would dissolve this privilege.

So far, this is a victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has set his attacks against Disney for not supporting his “Don’t say gay” bill.

Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, and if the governor ​​signs the bill into law, the Reedy Creek Improvement District would be dissolved effective June 1, 2023, like other similar districts.

The dissolution of Reedy Creek will mean Orange and Osceola counties would absorb Disney’s ​​employees, infrastructure, and municipal services.

Orange County officials are warning about the “catastrophic” impact the bill would have on the county’s budget.

“If we had to take over the first response and public safety components for Reedy Creek with no new revenue, that would be catastrophic for our budget in Orange County. It would put an undue burden on the rest of the taxpayers in Orange County, to fill that gap,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

​​In March, Disney said it would suspend political donations in the state and added that it would in turn support organizations working to oppose the new law. DeSantis and his fellow Republicans then lashed out at Disney, and have defended the law as reasonable.

Democrats have criticized the Disney proposal as clear retaliation against the company and warned that local homeowners could get hit with big tax bills if they have to absorb bond debt from Disney.

Disney is one of Florida’s biggest private employers, last year saying it had more than 60,000 workers in the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.