5 ms·

Disney says Florida cannot dissolve self-governing without paying debts

38 points by oblib 4y ago

Terretta 4y ago
Previously: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31179582 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31179582
jet_32951 4y ago
This is how Desantis' habit of coming in fast, loud and stupid will carry him out of politics. It will be a hell of a show when six million Florida households find themselves liable for 1.0e9 worth of bonds and Desantis says "oops".
- timoth3y 4y ago
  Desantis won't says "oops". He's a much better politician than that. He will point to ballooning state deficits, scream that his opponents want to waste even more money, and demand cuts to education and public services.
  - jet_32951 4y ago
    That's probably right, though I wonder whether facts impacting Florida's tax burden wouldn't be exposed by e.g. the Miami Herald - and whether it would matter.
    - testbjjl 4y ago
      > though I wonder whether facts Sarcasm? Facts are mere speed bumps to destination nowhere fast.
rdtwo 4y ago
The Disney county should have been illegal in the first place. Is a company county instead of a company town and those were banned in the 1900s for good reason
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- colburnmh 4y ago
  The idea that the RCID is a "company town" is an easy catch-phrase, but it is incorrect. The concept of a company towns was one where the company ran all aspects of the town and forced workers to live there, pay rent, buy products at company-owned stores, and payed the workers in company script to ensure that the workers could not move out of the town--all of those profits flowed directly to the company. Disney pays its employees in US dollars, not company script; they don't force people to live in the RCID--in fact there are only a few hand-picked senior employees live there--and Disney charges them $75/month in rent--subsidising rent, rather than profiting from it. It is important to note that Florida has 1844 special districts. 76 of those are independent special districts. The "independent" refers to those special districts that have ad valorem taxation rights (i.e.: they are able to levy taxes on residents in addition to county taxes). According to Florida law, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is required to be an independent special district because it straddles two counties (Orange and Osceola). Other theme parks in Florida, like Sea World and Universal, also have their own special districts. Stripping Disney of their special district rights while allowing competitors to retain theirs is another point proving that legislation is both hypocritical and retaliation for Disney raising objections to the "Parental Rights in Education" (aka "Don't Say Gay") bill. Disney also pays property taxes to both Orange and Osceola counties at the same rate as all other property owners, a requirement of Florida state law. But, since Disney doesn't actually use county infrastructure or services (or pays for their use, if needed), those taxes end up subsidising infrastructure and services for the rest of the county residents. Further, the taxation powers for Disney allows them to pay for their own infrastructure and services by taxing themselves 3x more than state law would otherwise allow. The narrative that Disney pays less taxes as a result of their special district is patently false.
mrlonglong 4y ago
Disney should fight deSantis by helping out Democrats and and independants. Turn that state blue!
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

38 points by oblib 4y ago

Previously: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31179582 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31179582

This is how Desantis' habit of coming in fast, loud and stupid will carry him out of politics. It will be a hell of a show when six million Florida households find themselves liable for 1.0e9 worth of bonds and Desantis says "oops".

timoth3y 4y ago
Desantis won't says "oops". He's a much better politician than that. He will point to ballooning state deficits, scream that his opponents want to waste even more money, and demand cuts to education and public services.
- jet_32951 4y ago
  That's probably right, though I wonder whether facts impacting Florida's tax burden wouldn't be exposed by e.g. the Miami Herald - and whether it would matter.
  - testbjjl 4y ago
    > though I wonder whether facts Sarcasm? Facts are mere speed bumps to destination nowhere fast.

rdtwo 4y ago

The Disney county should have been illegal in the first place. Is a company county instead of a company town and those were banned in the 1900s for good reason

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
colburnmh 4y ago
The idea that the RCID is a "company town" is an easy catch-phrase, but it is incorrect. The concept of a company towns was one where the company ran all aspects of the town and forced workers to live there, pay rent, buy products at company-owned stores, and payed the workers in company script to ensure that the workers could not move out of the town--all of those profits flowed directly to the company. Disney pays its employees in US dollars, not company script; they don't force people to live in the RCID--in fact there are only a few hand-picked senior employees live there--and Disney charges them $75/month in rent--subsidising rent, rather than profiting from it. It is important to note that Florida has 1844 special districts. 76 of those are independent special districts. The "independent" refers to those special districts that have ad valorem taxation rights (i.e.: they are able to levy taxes on residents in addition to county taxes). According to Florida law, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is required to be an independent special district because it straddles two counties (Orange and Osceola). Other theme parks in Florida, like Sea World and Universal, also have their own special districts. Stripping Disney of their special district rights while allowing competitors to retain theirs is another point proving that legislation is both hypocritical and retaliation for Disney raising objections to the "Parental Rights in Education" (aka "Don't Say Gay") bill. Disney also pays property taxes to both Orange and Osceola counties at the same rate as all other property owners, a requirement of Florida state law. But, since Disney doesn't actually use county infrastructure or services (or pays for their use, if needed), those taxes end up subsidising infrastructure and services for the rest of the county residents. Further, the taxation powers for Disney allows them to pay for their own infrastructure and services by taxing themselves 3x more than state law would otherwise allow. The narrative that Disney pays less taxes as a result of their special district is patently false.

mrlonglong 4y ago

Disney should fight deSantis by helping out Democrats and and independants. Turn that state blue!

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]