Property Appraiser, Universal Square Off in 860-Acre Tax Tiff

ORLANDO-Real estate lawyers for Universal Orlando and Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan are in a taxing feud with neither side willing to give ground.

The theme park, which owns 2,500 acres in southwest Orlando, is fighting to keep a special agriculture-zoned exemption for 860 pine tree-covered acres at Universal Boulevard and International Drive that is worth $1.4 million in saved taxes each year.

Universal has had a lower tax assessment on the 860 acres since 1999 when Orange County chairman Rich Crotty was the property appraiser. The property was then zoned agriculture with a lower tax assessment.