ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered an investigation into the former board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
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Last week, the new board discovered the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Walt Disney World signed a contract before the new state-run board took over that essentially strips the new board of any power over any Disney development.
DeSantis is asking Florida’s inspector general and FDLE to launch a thorough review and investigation into the former Reedy Creek board.
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The governor said he believes the 11th-hour agreements the former board shoved through are likely invalid.
In a letter to the inspector general, DeSantis wrote that the agreements signed between Walt Disney World and the former reedy creek improvement district board were designed to usurp the authority of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The governor goes onto say that not only does it nullify recently passed legislation and undercut Florida’s legislative process, but based on initial observations of counsel, the RCID’s actions appear to suffer from serious legal infirmities, including among other things, inadequate notice, lack of consideration, improper delegation of authority and ethical violations such as conflicts of interest and self-dealing.
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The governor is asking the Inspector General to look into several aspects of the deal the old board made.
Disney has not returned a request seeking comment.
Watch: Power play: Disney handicapped new Reedy Creek board before handing over control
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