Disney and Florida governor end tax dispute – 03/27/2024 – Tourism

Disney and a board chosen by the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, reached an agreement this Wednesday (27) on the management of the area where the company’s attraction park is located in this state in the southeast of the United States, thus ending the dispute between the entertainment giant and the Republican politician starting in 2022.

“I believe that with this agreement, which is complete and meaningful, we look forward to working with Disney,” said Charbel Barakat, vice president of the board, after announcing the news during a meeting.

The company and DeSantis clashed after Disney criticized a state law that prohibits the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s schools.

After those comments, DeSantis appointed a board to run the special district granted to Disney in the 1960s at its attractions park outside Orlando, which the company ran like a local government.

This Wednesday’s agreement annuls provisions signed by the company just before the transfer of control of the district. At the time, Disney ensured with this move that it would not need board approval to build buildings in the area or give up surface rights.

In response, the board appealed to the state court, with the legal dispute now resolved.

“We are pleased to settle all pending litigation in Florida state courts between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District,” Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World, said in a statement.

The agreement “meets the interests of all parties by allowing important continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs” in the state, he added.

DeSantis and Disney, which employs more than 75,000 people in Florida, still have an open legal front in federal court.

The company recently appealed a court ruling that closed a case filed against the governor, in which it accused him of acting out of political “revenge.”

But Disney requested the postponement of this case pending further negotiations with the board, as announced by the board at this Wednesday’s meeting.

DeSantis, who withdrew his candidacy in the Republican presidential primary, became famous for promoting a conservative agenda and attacking politicians and companies like Disney, accusing them of trying to impose their progressive ideology.