Editorial
As a newspaper publisher, I’ve never been 100% comfortable with the Reedy Creek Improvement District as it was established and has operated for over five decades. I personally think it is a mistake to allow any private entity to conduct itself with all the powers and rights of a governmental office. This particular district, I believe, has led to a huge financial and administrative advantage for the House of Mouse for many years.
This being said, I absolutely do not agree with yesterday’s vote in Tallahassee to dissolve the district next year. I think it would have been more prudent and level-headed to pass a bill that corrected any concerns that Tallahassee has with Reedy Creek and other districts instead of simply dissolving them but then again, Tallahassee does like to do things the quick and easy way provided it doesn’t impact any of them.
While many will say it had to do with the company’s opposition to a bill that was popular with both the majority party and the governor’s office in Tallahassee, it should be noted that calls for the district to be eliminated did not happen until Disney announced that it was going to suspend political donations for the foreseeable future.
Many of the elected representatives who voted to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District today have benefited for years from donations to their political campaigns as well as the PACs they favored as well.
Yesterday’s vote has the potential to set a dangerous precedent for Florida’s future. Two billion in debt to be transferred to Orange and Osceola counties. Which is $2,200 additional taxes to each house in Orange and Osceola counties for the near future.
In essence, it sends a message that any entity, whether private or public, that our elected representatives in Tallahassee have a problem with can swiftly and severely be attacked one way or another with a single vote.
I hope that those who voted in favor of SB 4-C do not someday find themselves in the crosshairs of those that succeed them in office although there’s something to be said for karma.