Another year and another time the Walt Disney Company is trying to challenge paying their share of property taxes. While Disney keeps raising prices on guests and charging for the “Disney” name and experience, they simultaneously challenge and sue yearly over their assessed property taxes.
Now reports are indicating that the local schools are suffering because of it.
According to Orlando Weekly, the Orange County Public Schools have had to set aside $119 million dollars for “pending litigation” from Disney, and other larger businesses, because they keep challenging and suing the tax collector for “excessive” property taxes.
Each year, Disney posts gains from the theme parks like Walt Disney World, due to the increased costs making guests spend more money (RPU). And each year Disney disputes their property taxes. In 2020 they even got the whole method for determining value changed because they didn’t think their “brand” should factor into it. All while raising their prices over and over, using the “Disney” brand and “Disney difference” as a reason for the price hikes.
Sounds a bit hypocritical.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Weekly reports that the district had to close seven schools due to reduced enrollment and the loss of funding. According to Clinton McCracken, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, the teachers and staff are getting less than a 1% pay increase due to the amount of money set aside for Disney’s litigation.
The district also announced that a program to help students who are homeless, in crisis, or potentially suicidal had coordinator positions cut for the upcoming school year as well. 12 social workers and six psychologist positions are also being eliminated. It’s unclear if Disney’s litigation is the direct cause, but many argue that they are related.
It is important to note that the district lost a significant number of students which also lowered the amount of money they received from the state. Not all of it is Disney’s fault, but it would help the district if Disney paid the assessed property taxes instead of fighting them in court.
Now, an organizer for a Disney Union, along with McCracken, is speaking out.
Ella Wood, an organizer with Unite Here Local 737, spoke at a community center recently, arguing that Disney has the right to sue, but the local schools need their help.
“Disney has the legal right to sue. They’re not doing anything that they’re not allowed to do, but they also don’t have to. They could drop the lawsuits, and they could also agree to give that money for our schools and teachers here.
We’re here because we think it’s time to ask for more. We need an economy around us and a political system around us that put us first, that care about our families first, and we don’t believe we have that. We think we need to build that together.”
These aren’t just employees of Walt Disney World. They are concerned parents with students in the schools.
Members of Unite Here Locals 362 and 737 have been trying to collect signatures over the last month for a petition fighting the property taxes but also the increased health care costs that Walt Disney World workers have faced.
McCracken told the Orlando Weekly that Disney’s decisions impact the community,
“These decisions have real consequences for students, educators and our community. If we are serious about supporting public education, we need all stakeholders, including major community partners like Disney, to reconsider actions that are contributing to the strain on our public schools.”
While the school district didn’t initially confirm that Disney was the cause for some of the recent changes in the district, the chief communications officer did reportedly name Disney’s lawsuit specifically as a factor in the districts recent cuts.
Disney has no issues charging ridiculous prices to visit their theme parks, but they don’t want to pay assesed property values that benefit the community and schools their own Cast Members are part of. It doesn’t seem like a “Disney family” attitutde to me. But hey, their stocks are not doing great and they need those record profits for the rich investors.
What do you think? Comment and let us know!
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