Virginia Lawmakers Back Away From Disney Aid

Lawmakers said Monday that they plan to withdraw a proposal to have Prince William County borrow up to $50 million for water and sewer lines for a Walt Disney Co. theme park, saying they are looking at other options, including asking the company to pay for the improvements.

The company might be asked to put up the money and possibly recover it over time through tax breaks, said Delegate Harry J. Parrish (R-Manassas), a chief sponsor of Virginia Gov. George Allen’s incentive package to help Disney build the park near Haymarket.

Such a switch would be a change to Allen’s original proposal and a clear sign that Disney’s America park faces a tougher time in the General Assembly than many originally predicted. Parrish said he will make a final decision after a meeting today of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, but he said that “we’ll probably just strike the bills” from the docket.

Theme park opponents reacted with predictable support of the proposals, saying the state should not subsidize Disney’s plans.

“The delegates and senators are hearing from back home. That’s what’s changing the landscape,” said Robert Elliott, spokesman for Protect, a Prince William-based group opposing the park. Elliott said the group sent 50 people to lobby the legislators last week.

Allen’s proposed package calls for the state to spend $163.2 million for road improvements on and around the 3,000-acre site, relocation costs and a tourism promotional program.

While embracing the idea of luring Disney to Virginia, some legislators have complained that Allen gave away too much in negotiations with the multibillion-dollar corporation.

Three studies by Disney, park opponents and the state have produced varying forecasts of the tax revenue and jobs that the park and its spinoff commercial and residential development would produce.