Nathan Goldman and Christina Lewellen on the Financial Impact of Disney’s Battle with Florida

Nathan Goldman, assistant professor of accounting, and Christina Lewellen, assistant professor of accounting, joined the Financial Recon podcast to discuss their recent publication entitled “The Happiest Place on Earth? A Look Inside Disney’s Tax and Non-Tax Battle with the State of Florida” and the financial implications of the revocation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

“Lawmakers have the idea that Disney is going to pay the same taxes that are levied through Reedy Creek and that there is a spillover which will pay for things in the community, but this may backfire and be the opposite,” said Lewellen. “Reedy Creek, being a special district, can collect higher taxes than the maximum allowed in the state so the additional tax burden will be spread out over the current individual and corporate entities that make up Orange and Osceola counties.”

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