Before you start spending the guy's money, you have to stop looking at this in a vacuum.

 

Not only is Loria's $192 million already the biggest piece of the pie, he is also on the hook for any cost overruns, which potentially could run another $10-20 million depending on when they actually start construction and a million other unforeseen problems that might/will arise in a project of this magnitude.

 

Personally, I think the way to deal with this is a surtax at both Marlins Stadium and the OB in the range of 1.5%. Based on ticket sales of approximately 30,000 a game and an average $25 per seat, it would raise in the neighborhood $1 million a year at Marlins stadium and about half that at the OB. If such a tax were to be applied to food and other concessions, the $$$ money needed could be generated exclusively at the stadium complex and from my perspective be the fairest way of handling the shortfall. It would also undermine all the "don't tax me to make some millionaire richer" naysayers because the enduser (the fans) is paying the tax and no one else.

 

For example, a $25.00 ticket, now taxed at 7% actually costs $26.75, that number would increase to $27.13, or a 38 cent increase, which is insignificant.

 

If the Marlins are smart and they are, they should also bounce TicketMaster and bring those services in-house, which would also be an additional source of revenue because of TM's service charges. Basically what is going to happen over the next couple of months is the parties are going to look for other ways to skin the cat and I suspect a ticket surcharge will be one of them.

 

 

 

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767455[/snapback]

 

 

I hope your right. I think its the only fair way to do things if the fans really want the Marlins to stay here in Miami, then they should help with the cost and not some shmuck who doesn't give one damn about the Marlins to begin with.

Before you start spending the guy's money, you have to stop looking at this in a vacuum.

 

Not only is Loria's $192 million already the biggest piece of the pie, he is also on the hook for any cost overruns, which potentially could run another $10-20 million depending on when they actually start construction and a million other unforeseen problems that might/will arise in a project of this magnitude.

 

Personally, I think the way to deal with this is a surtax at both Marlins Stadium and the OB in the range of 1.5%. Based on ticket sales of approximately 30,000 a game and an average $25 per seat, it would raise in the neighborhood $1 million a year at Marlins stadium and about half that at the OB. If such a tax were to be applied to food and other concessions, the $$$ money needed could be generated exclusively at the stadium complex and from my perspective be the fairest way of handling the shortfall. It would also undermine all the "don't tax me to make some millionaire richer" naysayers because the enduser (the fans) is paying the tax and no one else.

 

For example, a $25.00 ticket, now taxed at 7% actually costs $26.75, that number would increase to $27.13, or a 38 cent increase, which is insignificant.

 

If the Marlins are smart and they are, they should also bounce TicketMaster and bring those services in-house, which would also be an additional source of revenue because of TM's service charges. Basically what is going to happen over the next couple of months is the parties are going to look for other ways to skin the cat and I suspect a ticket surcharge will be one of them.

.

767455[/snapback]

 

Can't be done. By law (and I believe it's a constitutional mandate) the sales tax in Florida cannot exceed 6% (with the local government's authorized to add up to 1%). Adding such a "surtax" would run the sales tax for those uses to approximately 8.0% (6.5% + 1.5%).

For one, local governments are authorized to raise sales taxes more than one percent. I live in Tallahassee, and we have a local tax of 1.5% plus the state tax of 6% so I would assume that's not an issue.

 

Also, since it's not accross the board it doesn't matter anyway. They could call it a "tax," but if it is in actuality not legal then they could simply act as if it were just a hike in ticket prices. I think this sounds like a good idea, but the problem arises when economics runs its course. Higher ticket prices means less people attending games.

Additionally, and by example, the sales tax on Miami Beach is higher than in the rest of the county.

 

I do believe though, there must be a mechanism for increasing some tax, whether it be a sales tax, a surtax, etc. For example, two years ago (or was it three) we added a half penny for "transportation" in Miami-Dade.

 

My point though is that by "taxing" or a "surcharge" exclusively at the source, the two co-joined stadiums, would diminish the negative implications of a broader based tax.

For one, local governments are authorized to raise sales taxes more than one percent.? I live in Tallahassee, and we have a local tax of 1.5% plus the state tax of 6% so I would assume that's not an issue.

 

Also, since it's not accross the board it doesn't matter anyway.? They could call it a "tax," but if it is in actuality not legal then they could simply act as if it were just a hike in ticket prices.? I think this sounds like a good idea, but the problem arises when economics runs its course.? Higher ticket prices means less people attending games.

767573[/snapback]

 

NOPE, for starters, only counties are authorized to implement sales surtaxes and only for those purposes specifically listed in Section 212.055, Florida Statutes. Furthermore, Dade County is already dipping into two of those listed purposes which does not allow the rate to exceed the combined 1% over the State Sales Tax rate of 6%.

 

The only additional tax rate permitted is on the sale of food and beverages in specified areas under Section 212.0306, Florida Statutes, but that tax money is what Miami-Dade County earmarked already for the stadium (that's where the County's contribution comes from under Section 212.0306(3)(a), Fla.Stat.).

 

Both statutory provisions are linked for your pleasure (a little "bathroom reading" anyone?).

For one, local governments are authorized to raise sales taxes more than one percent. I live in Tallahassee, and we have a local tax of 1.5% plus the state tax of 6% so I would assume that's not an issue.

 

Also, since it's not accross the board it doesn't matter anyway. They could call it a "tax," but if it is in actuality not legal then they could simply act as if it were just a hike in ticket prices. I think this sounds like a good idea, but the problem arises when economics runs its course. Higher ticket prices means less people attending games.

767573[/snapback]

 

NOPE, for starters, only counties are authorized to implement sales surtaxes and only for those purposes specifically listed in Section 212.055, Florida Statutes. Furthermore, Dade County is already dipping into two of those listed purposes which does not allow the rate to exceed the combined 1% over the State Sales Tax rate of 6%.

 

The only additional tax rate permitted is on the sale of food and beverages in specified areas under Section 212.0306, Florida Statutes, but that tax money is what Miami-Dade County earmarked already for the stadium (that's where the County's contribution comes from under Section 212.0306(3)(a), Fla.Stat.).

 

Both statutory provisions are linked for your pleasure (a little "bathroom reading" anyone?).

767789[/snapback]

 

 

SoFlaFish, you're the best! :thumbup

 

Thanks for the explanation.