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I can't help but see the irony that DeSantis is being described as an autocrat for trying to break up what is effectively a autonomous state that Walt Disney cr

I can't help but see the irony that DeSantis is being described as an autocrat for trying to break up what is effectively a autonomous state that Walt Disney created to bypass most laws and oversight. > Walt Disney knew that his plans for the land would be easier to carry out with more independence. Among his ideas for his Florida project was his proposed EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, which was to be a futuristic planned city (and which was also known as Progress City). He envisioned a real working city with both commercial and residential areas, but one that also continued to showcase and test new ideas and concepts for urban living. Therefore, the Disney company petitioned the Florida State Legislature for the creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which would have almost total autonomy within its borders. Residents of Orange and Osceola counties did not need to pay any taxes unless they were residents of the district. Services like land use regulation and planning, building codes, surface water control, drainage, waste treatment, utilities, roads, bridges, fire protection, emergency medical services, and environmental services were overseen by the district. The only areas where the district had to submit to the county and state would be property taxes and elevator inspections. I am hard pressed to think of anything more anti-competitive and anti-trust than Reedy Creek. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reedy_Creek_Improvement_District#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reedy_Creek_Improvement_Distri...

caddemon 4y ago
How is it anticompetitive? None of those public services have real competition to begin with. Whether you agree with Disney being allowed to run their own utilities, roads, EMS, etc. there would not be any competition with or without Reedy Creek. I actually find it ironic that Republicans are supporting this. It is an example where by and large a private company has done a better job providing various public services than the government would. Revoking Reedy Creek will put a greater tax burden on the relevant counties. It seems like a lose/lose to me, and also an example of stupid "culture wars" taking precedence over the politics of the real issue at hand.
- kolanos 4y ago
  To start Florida has a corporate income tax (~5.5%) and a sales tax (~6%), neither of which Disney has to pay in their autonomous zone. They only have to pay property tax. They also don't have to adhere to any developmental regulations (other than ones they impose on themselves, as they are the governing body) or related expenses. Think Six Flags gets such perks?
  - caddemon 4y ago
    Yes, Florida's corporate income tax is basically fake: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-florida-corporate-tax-avoidance-20191113-sx37z4l3d5b6viugtl4thlqxem-story.html https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-florida-corporate... And I can't find any evidence that Disney doesn't need to charge Florida sales tax within the parks. They definitely charge the state sales tax on ticket sales as I just checked the email receipt from my most recent trip.

caddemon 4y ago

How is it anticompetitive? None of those public services have real competition to begin with. Whether you agree with Disney being allowed to run their own utilities, roads, EMS, etc. there would not be any competition with or without Reedy Creek. I actually find it ironic that Republicans are supporting this. It is an example where by and large a private company has done a better job providing various public services than the government would. Revoking Reedy Creek will put a greater tax burden on the relevant counties. It seems like a lose/lose to me, and also an example of stupid "culture wars" taking precedence over the politics of the real issue at hand.

kolanos 4y ago
To start Florida has a corporate income tax (~5.5%) and a sales tax (~6%), neither of which Disney has to pay in their autonomous zone. They only have to pay property tax. They also don't have to adhere to any developmental regulations (other than ones they impose on themselves, as they are the governing body) or related expenses. Think Six Flags gets such perks?
- caddemon 4y ago
  Yes, Florida's corporate income tax is basically fake: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-florida-corporate-tax-avoidance-20191113-sx37z4l3d5b6viugtl4thlqxem-story.html https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-florida-corporate... And I can't find any evidence that Disney doesn't need to charge Florida sales tax within the parks. They definitely charge the state sales tax on ticket sales as I just checked the email receipt from my most recent trip.