In what appears to be an attempt to kill the stadium deal the city commission votes not to donate land for the stadium. Instead they want to increase the sales tax to wring their hands of it.

 

Associated Press

MIAMI -- Miami leaders voted Thursday to ask the county to seek a half-penny sales tax to raise $225 million for a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.

 

The city commission voted unanimously to urge the county to set a March 9 referendum asking voters if they want to fund part of the stadium cost by adding to the 7-cent-per-dollar tax for 18 months.

 

City commissioners say they will take the resolution to the county as soon as it is formally drafted, The Miami Herald reported for Friday editions.

 

"The question has been, 'Where do we find the money?'" Commissioner Tomas Regalado said. "What this referendum would (do) is ask if people want the stadium, and whether they are willing to pay for it."

 

Miami-Dade County already has pledged $73 million toward the cost of the stadium, and the Marlins have said they would provide $137 million. The Marlins estimate the stadium's cost at $325 million, assuming Miami donates the land. That would leave a $115 million funding gap.

 

But Miami City Manager Joe Arriola said Thursday that the city doesn't plan to donate the land, which means the cost would be $450 million.

 

County commissioners already intend to ask voters in November to approve a $1 billion public-works bond.

 

The 13 commissioners could not be reached after hours Thursday.

they are definitely reneging here...

 

theoretically this might put the onus on jeffrey loria for winning a new stadium. if anything went to the voters, you'd bet that he'd have to prove that he's not "dismantling" this team....

 

vlad, anyone?

 

personally, i'd love to see the herald conduct a poll among dade voters to see if they'd accept something like this. i'm like 90% sure it'd get defeated.

Did you think The city of miami was gonna just pull 70 mil out of their as s? The stadium was going to payed ith tax payer money anyway, the sales tax is just a more direct way of obtaining the funds.

If the City of Miami doesn't want to participate, then the Marlins should look for north Dade county sites where it would be more geographically centered relative to the fan base.

Or maybe they should give Don King a call :mischief2

Or maybe they should give Don King a call :mischief2

Never trust in Don King...

 

 

 

That is all...

they are definitely reneging here...

 

theoretically this might put the onus on jeffrey loria for winning a new stadium. if anything went to the voters, you'd bet that he'd have to prove that he's not "dismantling" this team....

 

vlad, anyone?

 

personally, i'd love to see the herald conduct a poll among dade voters to see if they'd accept something like this. i'm like 90% sure it'd get defeated.

Even after you get the public past the distrust over "dismantling" you still have to get over the more traditional hurdles that any new, public-money stadium has in the public's eye.

 

At the end of the day the biggest obstacle to public money via a referendum is this:

 

Why would one of the poorest and most corrupt of the large cities in the country ignore it's atrocious schools and delapidated infrastructure to allocate cash for a stadium?

 

 

 

It'll get done sooner or later, but I just can't see the money coming out of an outpouring of public support, whether it be via public sentiment or the more formal endorsement via referendum.

what's a half cent sales tax going to do to the taxpayers' burden? basically nothing.

 

for example:

Right now with 7% tax you pay $10.00 for an item, you pay $.70 in tax.

If the 7.5% tax passes, you pay $10.00 for an item, you pay $.75 in tax.

they are definitely reneging here...

 

theoretically this might put the onus on jeffrey loria for winning a new stadium. if anything went to the voters, you'd bet that he'd have to prove that he's not "dismantling" this team....

 

vlad, anyone?

 

personally, i'd love to see the herald conduct a poll among dade voters to see if they'd accept something like this. i'm like 90% sure it'd get defeated.

Even after you get the public past the distrust over "dismantling" you still have to get over the more traditional hurdles that any new, public-money stadium has in the public's eye.

 

At the end of the day the biggest obstacle to public money via a referendum is this:

 

Why would one of the poorest and most corrupt of the large cities in the country ignore it's atrocious schools and delapidated infrastructure to allocate cash for a stadium?

 

 

 

It'll get done sooner or later, but I just can't see the money coming out of an outpouring of public support, whether it be via public sentiment or the more formal endorsement via referendum. Infrastructure and schools have their own sources of funding that cannot be touched and changed unless the state and feds do it. Why is it that no one ever remembers state funds the school systems and most of the roads are run by the state and county. the city does very little because almost every road is a county or state road.

Posted on Fri, Dec. 19, 2003

 

FLORIDA MARLINS

Miami: Let voters decide on tax hike for new stadium

Miami wants a countywide referendum to decide on a half-penny sales tax to help build a baseball stadium, but Dade leaders aren't enthusiastic.

BY CAROLYN SALAZAR AND KARL ROSS

csalazar@herald.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miami leaders, unwilling to commit any city money or land to build a Marlins stadium, will ask Miami-Dade commissioners to seek voter approval of a half-penny sales tax to raise $225 million for the ballpark -- a proposal not being embraced by county officials.

 

The Miami City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to support Commissioner Tom?s Regalado's resolution urging the county to set a March 9 referendum asking voters if they want to fund part of the stadium cost by adding a half-cent to the seven cent per dollar tax for 18 months.

 

''Up to now, everything we have heard is what the mayors and commissioners have to say about the stadium,'' Regalado said. ``But we wanted to create an avenue for people who have not spoken. We want to know if people want a stadium, and if they are willing to pay for it.''

 

Regalado said city-county collaboration could help build a new stadium -- and the plan could collapse if the county shoots down the tax idea.

 

But the plan has already run into trouble with the county. Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas said in a statement that he does not support the proposal, and other county officials also expressed reservations.

 

County Manager George Burgess, who is helping the Marlins assemble a finance plan, said the timing is off in light of a proposed $1 billion public-works bond scheduled to go before voters in November. He also said he doubts taxpayers would rally behind another sales tax.

 

''There's only so many times you can ask people to reach into their pockets,'' Burgess said. ``The general obligation bond program is far more critical in the list of needs [than a stadium], and I wouldn't want to recommend something that would detract from the possibility of the bond program succeeding.''

 

A majority of county commissioners would have to vote to place a referendum on the ballot. Some said Thursday that they will oppose it.

 

''I will not support it at the County Commission,'' said County Commissioner Joe Mart?nez, who wants to use county funds for the stadium only if the plan does not burden local residents. ``And if by any stretch I'm on the losing end of that, I, as a citizen and a leader, will go to my community and explain why it's a bad idea. I think the people of Miami-Dade County have been taxed enough lately.''

 

COMPLETE PLAN

 

County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, another early supporter of the Marlins' stadium push, said he would not support a countywide referendum vote unless a complete finance plan was in place, including available sites.

 

''I know it has to be a full plan before we consider anything,'' Barreiro said.

 

The city resolution, which could be handed to the county as early as today, comes after years of talks between city, county and Marlins officials over a new baseball stadium. City officials are considering the Orange Bowl and Miami Arena as possible sites for the new stadium. On Thursday, they said the Omni area is also a possible location.

 

Miami-Dade has already pledged $73 million in tourist tax money toward the cost of the stadium, and the Marlins have said they would provide $137 million. The Marlins estimate the stadium's cost at $325 million, assuming Miami donates the land. That would leave a $115 million gap.

 

But Miami City Manager Joe Arriola, who has expressed misgivings about the sales tax proposal, said Thursday that the city doesn't plan to donate the land, which means the cost would be $450 million.

 

So even with the additional sales tax revenue, Arriola said the plan will only work if the Marlins agree to pony up more of their own money. He said the $137 million, which would be provided over a 40-year period, is ``unfeasible.''

 

''Let's not kid ourselves,'' Arriola said. ``For this to happen, the Marlins need to step up to the plate and chip in more money.''

 

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz didn't comment except to say through a spokeswoman that he believes the issue ``should be left up to voters.''

 

Marlins officials also declined to comment on Thursday's developments.

 

Penelas, in his prepared statement, indicated he believes Miami should be more willing to chip in money for a stadium.

 

Penelas said he objected to the notion of using county money that could otherwise be used for more pressing community needs, such as healthcare and education. He said he supported the county's initial $73 million pledge because it did not rely on revenue sources that could be used for social services.

 

STILL HOPEFUL

 

''I remain hopeful that the city of Miami or other entities would commit resources to the stadium project that will result in a public-private partnership that ensures that the Marlins will play baseball in South Florida for many years to come,'' he said.

 

One local business leader was equally leery of raising the sales tax to fund the stadium, saying it would put Miami-Dade at a competitive disadvantage in luring tourists -- the economic engine of the county.

 

''This will put us at a further disadvantage with our neighbor to the north, Broward County,'' which has a six cent per dollar sales tax, said William Talbert, who heads the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. ``And it's been reported that a stadium would do nothing to help tourism.''

 

Another business leader, Beacon Council president Frank Nero, said the community would support paying for a Marlins stadium -- but he believes city or county commissioners should make that decision themselves rather than rely on voters who may find it difficult to ``understand the intricacies of a finance deal.''

 

''There's support out there to get this stadium done. If it's sold honestly and forthrightly, I think it has a good shot at it,'' Nero said. ``To me, baseball is an intrinsic part of life in the community. The community has to decide if it's something they value.''

 

Herald staff writers Charles Rabin and Marc Caputo contributed to this report.

*sigh*

 

cant bill gates just build us a stadium and we can call it microsoft park...........this is so frustrating, i really hope this stadium deal goes through cause it would be awful for the fish to leave south florida....

A half a penny tax for 18 months doesnt seem so bad.

 

It wouldnt really affect me since I live on the border of Dade County Line and buy most of my stuff in Broward county.

A half a penny tax for 18 months doesnt seem so bad.

 

It wouldnt really affect me since I live on the border of Dade County Line and buy most of my stuff in Broward county.

Which is why it doesn't seem so bad for you

 

If I lived in Miami it wouldn't bother me at all....over an 18 month period everything adds up but its not like we don't pay taxes....it would be a 7% increase in tax compared to what we usually pay...

ay i thought we pay 6% now you want it to be 7.5% f*** all this!!!!!!!!

 

im outraged, na not really.....

 

man all i have to say is whne there is a ball park in teh cit of Miami all it will do is employ more people maybe get an ALL STAR game here whcih generates more reviinue for this city... and yet they dont wanna do anything to help...... rather sepnd the $$$$$$$ on the convention center.....

 

Man i say f*** Miami CALL DON KING he wants to help us, and we should have our people talk with his people and get a deal done but we must read the FINE PRINT he is very hard to thrust.....

 

f*** Miami move em to Sunrise or where Mr.King wants him them to move