A big update about the future of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (“RCID”) could be on the way soon.

The RCID — which essentially functions as its own county and has given Disney a large amount of control over the land on which it operates in Orlando — is set to be dissolved on June 1st, 2023 due to a law passed by the Florida legislature. A spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously indicated that he expects a bill related to the RCID to be discussed next week in a special legislative session and now we’ve got another update on the situation.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Governor DeSantis has shared an important update about what will replace Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Though he hasn’t shared many details regarding how the setup will actually work, reportedly a bill that will give the state of Florida control over the RCID is in the works. When the bill would be introduced or voted on has not been confirmed, but a spokesperson DeSantis did indicate that he expects a special session will take place next week on the RCID.

At a news conference in Tallahassee DeSantis said, “We’re not going to have a corporation controlling its own government…That’s going to be reverted to the state. I’d rather it be the local [governments], but I don’t think that they’re prepared for it. So the state is going to have a board to run it.”

He also shared that the state would make sure “there are no special legal privileges and that they’re abiding by the same laws. That will be in the bill. And then making sure they’re paying their fair share of taxes and paying the debt.”

DeSantis also insisted, once again, that this arrangement would not raise local taxes in Orange or Osceola County. Last year, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings had said that removing the RCID’s self-governing status would be “catastrophic” for local taxpayers.

Up until now, the RCID has paid all of the necessary bills for its law enforcement, 911 call center, and fire services. But that, at least in part, relies on the RCID’s ability to impose its own property taxes — it can actually impose property taxes at a rate that’s much higher than other cities and counties. (Bloomberg Tax)

Keep in mind that Disney has already been paying taxes to local counties. In an interview with Disney Food Blog, Dr. James Clark, a political analyst and senior lecturer at the University of Central Florida Department of History, said “the special district does not exempt Disney from paying property taxes.”

He continued, “Disney is Central Florida’s largest taxpayer, paying nearly $300 million per year in property taxes to Orange and Osceola counties, as well as about $250 million in other state taxes.

If other counties had to assume many of the roles the RCID now performs, they would be doing it without any real expanded income. How this new state-created Board changes things remains to be seen. But perhaps it will essentially function as a replacement of the RCID, simply with a state-controlled rather than Disney-controlled board.

Interestingly, UCF Professor Aubrey Jewett previously indicated that Disney, as the sole landowner in the District, may have to agree to certain new terms. So we’ll have to see just how that relates to this development.

It looks like more news about Reedy Creek could be coming very soon, so stay tuned for all of the latest updates.

Click here to hear from Reedy Creek District leaders about the impending dissolution

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What do you think will ultimately happen with the Reedy Creek Improvement District? Tell us in the comments.

The post “We’re Not Going to Have a Corporation Controlling Its Own Government” — Governor DeSantis Comments on the Future of Disney’s Reedy Creek District first appeared on the disney food blog.