Orange County Elections Supervisor Glen Gilzean’s $20,000-a-month consulting deal with the state’s Walt Disney World tourism oversight district concluded Tuesday, ending a pay agreement that allowed him to draw extra money from the Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed district while working full-time as the county’s elections chief.

The agreement was part of Gilzean’s exit plan when he resigned as the district’s administrator to become Orange County’s elections chief at a salary of about $205,000 a year.

The consulting contract ran from April 1 until the end of the year, paying him a total of $180,000 for advising the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The agreement didn’t include a specific set of tasks, other than assisting the district and its new administrator on a “part-time basis” that would not interfere with Gilzean’s other full-time employment obligations.

“The consulting agreement ends December 31 as outlined in the contract,” district spokesman Matthew Oberly said when asked if the agreement would be renewed.

As a consultant, Gilzean submitted monthly reports to the district highlighting his outreach work on a “Buy Local” program he created that seeks to award district contracts to locally owned and veteran-owned businesses.

Gilzean, who was unavailable comment Tuesday, wrote that he hosted roundtables with business owners to educate them about opportunities available through the initiative. He wrote that it helped channel “investments into the local economy.”

The district’s five-member, DeSantis-appointed board hired Gilzean in May 2023 following a state overhaul of what was previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. He was given a $400,000-a-year salary for leading the special district that provides fire protection and other government services to Disney World.

Just under a year into his tenure, DeSantis appointed Gilzean in March to serve as Orange County’s elections supervisor.  He filled a vacancy created when longtime Democratic elections chief Bill Cowles retired in January 2024.

Between Gilzean’s elections job and consulting contract, he earned about $37,000 monthly in taxpayer-funded income.

Gilzean’s term as elections chief ends on Jan. 6 when Democrat Karen Castor Dentel takes over. Gilzean, who opted not to run for election, hasn’t announced what his plans are after he leaves office.

His brief tenure as elections supervisor was marked by controversy. He’s waged a political battle with county officials over the office’s spending. Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond accused Gilzean of overspending his budget without proper authorization and improperly disbursing millions of dollars to local nonprofits for scholarships.

Gilzean dismissed the county’s criticism as a political “witch hunt.”

Leaders at the tourism oversight district defended Gilzean’s consulting deal, saying it was needed to ensure continuity of government and was similar to what was offered to his predecessor John Classe.

Stephanie Kopelousos, a DeSantis political ally who replaced Gilzean at the district, authorized the agreement. The district’s board approved her hiring on March 27.