A group of residents in Florida are suing Governor Ron DeSantis over the revoking of the special Disney tax District.
Residents who live near Walt Disney World in Orlando are suing DeSantis and other officials over the decision to end Walt Disney’s special self-governing tax district, Deadline reports.
Created in 1967 and known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the special tax district has enabled Walt Disney World Orlando to self-govern its own operations for fifty-five-years.
On Disney World grounds, Disney is able to oversee land and environmental regulations, The Wrap reports.
It also allows it to have it’s own fire department and board of supervisors.
However, last month DeSantis signed a bill that would end the special self-governing tax district.
DeSantis signing the bill came after Disney opposed the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, the outlet reports.
Residents, Michael Foronda, Edward Foronda and Vivian Gorsky who are property owners living near Reedy Creek have filed a complaint against the decision as they claim that their rights as taxpayers have been violated by the state, the outlet reports.
In the complaint, they also allege that the elimination of the special tax district will leave taxpayers responsible for the district’s debt.
According to the outlet, the complaint filed sees the plaintiffs allege that the elimination will “move these major regulatory burdens unto the county, thereby increasing the plaintiff’s taxes, and will cause significant injury to plaintiffs.”
“Ron DeSantis has been clear on his intended punishment of Disney, although he claims the elimination of special districts will not affect central Florida taxpayers. Taxpayer lawsuits such as this one are meant to check and restrict official government misconduct.”
DeSantis’ elimination of the Reedy Creek Improvement District will not come into effect until next year.