The DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board is not backing down from its fight against Disney, according to new details revealed at the recent meeting.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream
The board is engaged in legal battles against The Walt Disney Company — they announced a lawsuit against Disney in May of this year, and Disney recently filed a countersuit against the board. These lawsuits don’t come cheap, as is evident in the Board’s budget plan for fiscal year 2024.
In the recent CFTOD meeting (which took place on August 23rd), we heard more about the removal of Disney Annual Pass benefits for district employees — a change that one district resident called “a low blow.” The board also presented its proposed budget for fiscal year 2024. A significant amount of that budget is allocated to “Disney Induced Expenses.”
©CFTOD
According to the report presented at the meeting, the board plans to use over $5 million in its legal battles against Disney. $4.5 million of that is in litigation fees.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream
The state court case (2023-CA-011818-O: CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT vs. WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS US INC) was brought by the District against Disney. It claims that certain agreements Disney entered into with the old Board are null and void.
Reedy Creek Improvement District
The Board has asked the state court to declare those agreements invalid. Disney previously filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit and the judge denied that motion, allowing the case to move forward. As a result, Disney was required to file an Answer to the Complaint, which they have since done, but their Answer contains more than just responses to the Board’s accusations.
Click here to learn about Disney’s countersuit against the board.
We’ll be watching for more updates on the legal battles between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the CFTOD board, and Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news.
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Now Your taxes at work!
The bottom line, cut employee benefits, and raise Disney taxes, all to fund lawsuits. Net, employees are screwed, Disney pays for both sides of lawsuits, and Desantis cronies are enriched.
All that tax-payer expense could have been avoided if the governor behaved like an adult and respected that all individuals and organizations can voice an opinion without being penalized.
Remember when little Ronnie promised that the dissolution of RCD wouldn’t cost taxpayers a Dime? % million is just the start, as I’m sure it will cost a lot more in the end.
I thought DeSantis was done with this BS?
Boy, this will go down in the history books…..Oops…Florida will just ban the books.
(by the time the books are printed…there will probably be a public book burning.)