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The
Republican governor last month signed a bill that will eliminate
the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Central Florida, a
special governing jurisdiction that has allowed the company to
operate Walt Disney World Resort as its own city since the late
1960s.
DeSantis has been locked in a feud with the entertainment
company since its leaders came out in opposition of a new state
law that limits the teaching and discussion of LGBTQ issues in
schools.
DeSantis told a news conference on Monday that rather than have
local communities absorb jurisdiction over Disney, it is "more
likely that the state will actually assume control."
His administration is working on proposals for what will happen
when Reedy Creek is dissolved, but they will not be taken up by
legislators until after the November election, he said.
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under Florida law, local governments would inherit the assets
and liabilities of Disney's district, the Orlando Sentinel
reported https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-desantis-disney-world-reedy-creek-plan-20220516-eq6h2jprd5f2ndcwjip6qsnpim-story.html,
an eventuality that some local officials have warned could have
dire consequences for taxpayers.
Experts have said the financial impact of the legislation on the
company and the state is unclear at this stage.
Without elaborating, DeSantis on Monday reiterated that Disney
will be responsible for honoring its nearly $1 billion bond debt
and that the company will pay its "share of taxes."
(Reporting by Maria Caspani in New York; Additional reporting by
Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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