Wilson Likely to Give Disney State’s Support : Resort: Governor visits county today. Company and city officials will be seeking funding help for the $3-billion project.

Gov. Wilson is scheduled to visit Orange County today to affirm the state’s commitment to the proposed $3-billion Disneyland Resort, including at least $25 million in state funds for freeway ramps and other transportation improvements.

Wilson is expected to meet privately with officials from the Walt Disney Co., the city of Anaheim and Orange County before an afternoon press conference. Disney and city officials hope that the state will join them in providing financial support for the project, which they say could generate thousands of new jobs and reinvigorate Southern California’s tourist economy.

Disney has proposed to build a new theme park and hotels, and transform the deteriorated urban area around Disneyland into a lush “garden district.”

The expansion of Disneyland “is a terrific opportunity to bring in tourism dollars and in the long term provide construction jobs,” said Wilson spokeswoman Lisa Bierer.

But Disney Chairman Michael Eisner has warned that the corporation may back away from the undertaking unless local, state and federal governments pay for at least $750 million in public works improvements.

The governor is expected to outline how the state will join other governmental agencies in improving the surrounding infrastructure that will support the project. In particular, Caltrans and Anaheim have already said they will pay $25 million each for two off-ramps from the Santa Ana Freeway that would serve the project’s parking garages.

Wilson’s trade secretary, Julie Wright, has previously called the Disneyland Resort one of the most important job-creating projects under consideration in the state, and pledged the governor’s support for it. Wright is one of the state agency heads expected to attend today’s meeting.

For Disney officials, the meeting today will represent a chance to pin down funding commitments from the state. They plan to give the governor an update on where the project stands.

“We’re looking forward to the meeting with the governor. Making the project feasible will require a partnership at all levels of government,” said Disney’s project director, Kerry Hunnewell.

While the $25 million is a start, officials say much more will be needed from the state. Besides the off-ramps, the state is expected to be a contributor to one of two parking garages--each believed to be the largest in the nation--on the east side of the theme park.

The parking garage is being planned as a park-and-ride transit bus station, and eventually a commuter rail station, and therefore eligible for public funds.

Officials are quick to point out too that the state coffers could gain handsomely from the project. An analysis by the city of Anaheim estimates that the state’s tax gain would be $90 million a year when fully complete.

“The city appreciates all the assistance from the state and its continuing support of the city’s No. 1 business, tourism,” Deputy City Manager Tom Wood said.