Rob Wile -
NBC News
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will seek to bring Disney's special governing district
under direct state control
in a bid to end the entertainment giant's decades-long deal with the Sunshine State
.
DeSantis is expected to appoint a new board to control Reedy Creek, the autonomous area currently run de facto by The Walt Disney Company, allowing it to maintain its own infrastructure and public services.
Created in 1967, the district also
allows Disney to raise taxes and issue bonds
to finance the expenses necessary to operate the services of the Walt Disney World resort.
[Florida Senate approves withdrawing Disney's special status in the state]
“The corporate reign has come to an end,” DeSantis director of communications Taryn Fenske said in a statement.
"Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control his own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, be responsible for his outstanding debts, and pay his fair share of taxes."
The special district of Reedy Creek, Florida, was created in 1967 and allows Disney to raise taxes and issue bonds to finance the expenses necessary to operate the services of the Walt Disney World resort.John Raoux / AP
Fenske added that a state-controlled board would also ensure that neighboring Orange County can't use issues related to Reedy Creek "as a pretext to raise taxes on Orange County residents."
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Fox News reported on the decision on Friday, citing sources in DeSantis' office.
In a document posted on the Osceola County website, which also borders Orange County and Reedy Creek, it was noted that the proposed legislation would not leave any current aspect of Reedy Creek intact.
Florida lawmakers already voted in a special session last year to
dissolve all special districts like Reedy Creek in Florida by June 2023
.
It was not immediately clear how that earlier vote would affect the new proposal.
