Though the Reedy Creek Improvement District may not ultimately be dissolved in June of 2023, the legislation signed by Governor Ron DeSantis is beginning to affect Walt Disney World. Specifically, Reedy Creek supervisors stated during a meeting this Wednesday that they are having trouble securing funding for previously announced solar arrays for Walt Disney World, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
John Classe, who oversees daily operations, said, “I learned this week that our planned expansion… of our solar power program, just one of the 75-megawatt facilities that we have in the pipeline, could be delayed because of the developer experiencing financing challenges relating to the uncertainty surrounding the legislation.”
He has told employees to continue “their work to the same high standards and professionalism they’ve always had, as we learn more about what this legislation means.”
Jon Shirey, president of the union representing Reedy Creek’s firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs, called on the board of supervisors to be transparent with the employees.
“We’ve been told to stay quiet — don’t talk to the media,” Shirey said. “Don’t engage in debate over current events in social media. We’ve been told the leadership of the district will tell the story.”
Union members are worried they could lose their benefits if the district is dissolved. Shirey hopes that Governor DeSantis will look out for the first responders, stating, “I think the overall feeling from the legislators on both sides of the aisle is regardless of what happens, they’re going to take care of us.”
Board member Donald Greer, who was elected in 1975, told reporters today that he has not spoken with state leaders about the legislation.
“The district may have a response as soon as we know what it means,” he said. “I don’t know if anybody really knows what it means. I would suspect if we should need to borrow money it would be difficult.”
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