Does Disney (or the RCD have to vote to dissolve itself? (In other words, the Legislature passing the bill was just a preliminary step?) No. The first part of your quote ... "Notwithstanding s. 189.072(2) ... that statute -- the 189.072(2) is the one that says if the Legislature wants to dissolve the special district then the majority of the landowners (Disney) has to vote to approve it. However, the new bill says Notwithstanding that statute -- meaning it defeats that requirement.
So, neither Disney nor the RCID get to vote and the dissolution is effective when the dates in the statute are met -- June 1, 2023.
Will the County taxes go up? Most likely not. In fact, some analysts say they might go down. The reporters were asking questions of the government officials about taking on a billion dollars in bonds -- WITHOUT NEW REVENUE. Well, of course, if that was the case, then some obligations of the Counties -- possibly property taxes -- would have to go up. But, the assumption of the functions of the RCID will not be without new sources of revenue. That was a disingenuous question by a reporter who wanted to raise scary scenarios. It was far from the reality of what will happen.
Will the County have to absorb the debt? Florida Statutes 189.072(4) states: (4) DEBTS AND ASSETS.—Financial allocations of the assets and indebtedness of a dissolved independent special district shall be pursuant to s.
189.076. Let's go see what that statute says.
189.076 Financial allocations.—
(1) The government formed by merger of existing special districts shall assume all indebtedness of, and receive title to all property owned by, the preexisting special districts. The proposed charter shall provide for the determination of the proper allocation of the indebtedness so assumed and the manner in which said debt shall be retired.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by law or ordinance, the dissolution of a special district government shall transfer the title to all property owned by the preexisting special district government to the local general-purpose government, which shall also assume all indebtedness of the preexisting special district.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to community development districts established pursuant to chapter 190 or to water management districts created and operated pursuant to chapter 373.
Without getting into the weeds in explanations, the debts and obligations are counter-balanced by also giving them the appropriate assets and streams of income. Disney will have to pay for all the utilities they use, the debt service on the bonds and all sorts of things. Some analysis say Disney has been intentionally short-falling the RCID several million a year. That would not be allowed to continue. Some analysts say Disney has likely been avoiding tens of millions of costs per year by being able to govern themselves in these matters. Could be. There will now be another layer of administration and oversight added, but this is the case for all the other similar businesses too. They can operate profitably, so Disney can too.
You made a good point that reading these forums it appears the answers to your questions are all over the place, depending on who is posting. Listen most closely to the ones who are giving you the citations to the statutes and authority. Otherwise, they might be somebody just quoting themselves or a reporter who wasn't informed and educated enough to ask the right questions. Bottom line: the sky is not falling. Disney is now silent to the public because they know that they have a lot of work to do with government officials to work on a smooth transition. They are going to have to do business with the government now. They are good businessmen. They will do it and both sides will get back on the same friendly side again. This is just a tempest in a teapot when viewed from 30,000 feet. Nothing to worry about.
