DeSantis-controlled board votes to cut law enforcement overtime at Disney World to pay for lawsuits – By Charles Jay (Daily Kos) / July 28, 2023
The Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed board overseeing Disney World’s special tax district has voted to cut millions in police protection hired to protect guests at Florida’s biggest tourist attraction. During a Wednesday meeting, the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District cut the $8 million spent annually to cover overtime costs for law enforcement officers at Disney properties, WFTV reported. The officers are hired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department under a contract that runs through the fall of 2024. Of course, Disney could easily make up for the $8 million the board plans to cut for overtime for sheriff’s deputies out of its huge profits.
The board said the cost of fighting Disney in court has forced it to have to find money in other places in its fiscal year 2024 budget. At the same time, the board said it would cut property tax rates by about 7% for the new fiscal year starting on Oct. 1.
It’s all part of an escalating legal and political battle between DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co. that began when Disney criticized Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill prohibiting classroom instruction about LGBTQ+ and gender identity topics in public school classrooms.
