The New "Low Blow" By the Central Florida Tourism District
Now those affected speak out about what is really at stake with these limitations to benefits.
Benefits Limited
When the state of Florida dismantled the Reedy Creek Improvement District, they replaced it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD for short). This new board now governs Disney World with five board members appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
There have been some growing pains with this new change, and the most surprising happened just days ago. The CFTOD alleged that Disney offered benefits to employees simply as a "scheme" to funnel taxpayer money back to its own company. You can read more about this HERE.
Firefighters Speak Out
Today, during a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District meeting, many members of Reedy Creek services spoke out against the removal of their benefits citing that this new change is a "low blow" to the district's public servants.
What appears to be the problem is that these benefits were already agreed upon by current employees and were earned by retired employees.
One firefighter shared, "This benefit is intangible and generational. We have retirees, some of them here today, who work their entire careers and work and earn this benefit for the rest of their lives. This allows me to bring my children to the parks and eventually my grandchildren."
He continues, "When the district changed hands last year, we were told that our jobs and benefits were safe." This most recent change makes that promise void now.
Pete Simon, a Reedy Creek firefighter shares, One member shared "This week marks the first brick being pulled in the dismantling of the district. My only question is, what's next?"
"This week marks the first brick being pulled in the dismantling of the district. My only question is, what's next?"
Pete Simon
It seems that the "What's next?" question is the one that many of these district members are concerned about. Changes are bound to occur, but these benefits were originally promised to remain. It is clear that these employees did not see this as a scheme by Disney but as a true employee benefit.
What do you think of this change in benefits? Do you think that the CFTOD should honor these agreed-upon benefits? How do you think these current and retired employees should be compensated? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with a fellow Disney pal.
All de SATIN has to do is change the law in the legislature, just like he made it legal for the citizens of Florida to pay for his presidential campaign expenses. Snap 1,2,3 oh yes I forgot it doesn't benefit he or his cronies. Would the tens of millions he spent on shipping in and out migrants had paid for this in perpetuum?
So Bob, apparently thinks this was wrong? Does Bob work? Does she get a pension, does she plan on getting a pension? Well the CFTOD promised to maintain all that. Now your surprised people like Bob and her cronies are taking it all away? Welcome to the new Florida!
Disney turned a (literal) swamp into a destination that is revered around the world. DeSantis' weird hang-ups on gender and his obsessive fascination with drag queens has lead to this all out war that is costing Floridians dearly and squandering precious state resources on his personal vendetta. Florida is suffering under an insurance crisis — and the State is spending more time fighting the state's largest employer about "wokeness," (whatever that means). What is Disney supposed to do? Create KKK and Third Reich attractions to placate DeSantis and his cronies?
Be grateful that you got an extraordinary benefit at the taxpayers expense for as long as you did. Thank you for your service!
If Disney wanted to give these people a thank you or a perk why did they bill the taxing agency? Disney used Reedy Creek like it's own personal bank account filled with tax dollars from the tourism tax. We should all have the ability to use tax money anyway we want and change rules to suit our own desires.
I feel the same about the gambling industry and the medical Marijuana. If you want it then everyone should have the same rights not just a connected few. All businesses should be able to use tax dollars as they please if one can. All people should be able to open casinos or dispensaries .
If you run a company you don’t give out a perk of free things at someone else’s company. It would cost the non Disney affiliated fire dept 1 grand per person to give out APs. Not only did it not cost Disney that they likely had a net positive on purchases made when they visited. It would be illogical to continue that, unless it is truly documented in the existing labor contract. If so it should continue until that contract terminates. Either way it would end.
First Rick Scott turned Florida into a cluster You know what! And then DeSantis comes in here and does a bigger cluster you know what to Florida. Why do these politicians always have f things up? Just saying just has done a one year he ever since he got out of Donald Trump's ass cuz he was so far up there until Trump started having all these problems in Florida and then DeSatanis with his tail between his legs had his wife clean his nose off and then it had to be industrial strength cleaned real good inside & out now because of the fact that he had so much time with his nose stuck up Trump's butt. I have never supported DeSatanis I think he's a waste of time and all he's doing is destroying people's lives and if they try to let him as a president God help us all. He's just another Donald Trump and I promise I won't get going on on my Trump soapbox! Just saying DESCUMIS has no idea who he's messing with here Disney could stomp him like a bug if they wanted to!!
Not a government entity. They have very strict rules about what benefits and how they can be passed on to their employees. That's why the receipts were forwarded to the inspector general for assessment and possible criminal prosecution.
You forgot the part were their lawyers advised the new district those benefits were potentially illegal for a government agency to dish out and that the paperwork has been referred to the inspector General for criminal prosecution. The CFTOD cannot keep those benefits as a natter of law. Misuse of state funds is a felony. If Reddy Creek was running as a Disney subsidiary instead if a government entity, they are on the hook for criminal charges.
First they are not benefits but perks given out by disney corporation. Benefits are written into the contract and negotiation can be done during new contract talks. But perks are given as a extra bonus for working with the walt disney company. Reedy creek employees work for Reedy creek County not walt disney world
This is DeSantis pure and simple. He is ruining the district. Don't forget that Disney built up that district the infrastructure etc. Was Disney and now basically the state is claiming almost an eminent domain type deal and just taking it over. The special privileges that Disney has was basically because they built up the whole district ground up. And now the rug is being pulled by DeSantis who is a power hungry dictator wannabe who is getting rid of officials elected by the people to name just one of his insane parlor tricks. Vote him out , impeach him, whatever but he is the cause of so many messes in Florida now. It's sad the beautiful state is failing
Correct De Santis is a SNAKE plus he has a GOD complex and thinks he can do no wrong.
If you stand for a photo op, you are no longer relevant to Ronald once you walk away. If you got in early you could have been appointed to something just for being willing to be an empty suit with a rubber stamp like Manny Diaz Jr.. These days you have to give Ronald about $50k to get appointed to something. Governor for sale down here in Florida.
How is he going to settle the problem he created? Go back? Admit he was doing all this for political reasons? No, he will double down and find new creative and repulsive ways to escalate the fight. Just like a pre-pubescent boy!
I expect that these are written into the employee contracts. Which basically puts the CFTOD in breach of contract.
The district doesn't belong to Disney, never has, it's a special government unit created for a special purpose that operates in a limited geographic boundary, so the fact that Disney was providing the district's employees with benefits, doesn't seem right in the first place. However, there's nothing stopping the district from purchasing those same benefits and passing them on to their employees just like any other organization could do. So why take it away? I would be upset if I lost a benefit. But losing benefits is an unfortunate reality, it happens. Happened to me. I'm sure it's happened to many others as well.
I am aware of the concern with conflicts of interest. A regulatory body can not accept things of value from the entity they regulate. But there should be a work around. How about the CFTOD provides this benefit to its employees? CFTOD can raise taxes on Disney to cover it. This whole thing is a mess. A mess from knee jerk decision making. Disney does not have the moral high ground but this conflict has grown stale. I urged DeSantis to settle this and move on, 4 months ago.
When all this crap was going down they all backed desantis so they need to keep backing him they can only have it one way. Desantis is showing them his true colors. A lier and cheat