ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Walt Disney World has won a lawsuit against the Orange County Property Appraiser's Office.
Disney sued the county office in 2016 over a dispute regarding the value of its Yacht and Beach Club Resort. Disney officials said the property was only valued at more than $188 million, but the OCPA valued the property at more than $336 million.
A judge sided with Disney, meaning Orange County must refund the company $1.2 million in overpaid property taxes.
“We are pleased with the judge’s ruling, which confirms the property appraiser’s methodology was inappropriate and unconstitutional, and led to an unlawful 118 percent increase in the assessed value of Disney’s property,” a Disney representative said.
"With all due respect to the judiciary, the court’s decision was grossly flawed and full of inaccuracies, and we will immediately file a motion for re-hearing this case,” Orange County Appraiser Rick Singh said, adding that the money went toward Orange County Public Schools. “We firmly stand by our methodology and the accuracy of our assessment and are prepared to vigorously defend this case on behalf of the taxpayers of Orange County.”