A proposal for a new Florida Marlins ballpark funded mostly with tourism taxes received another hit after county officials reported revenues fell 22 percent — the worst since 9/11.
A proposal for a new Florida Marlins ballpark funded mostly with tourism taxes received another hit after county officials reported revenues fell 22 percent — the worst since 9/11.
The proposed funding for the $639-million ballpark derives mostly from tourism taxes; the current plan assumes a dip in these revenues for the next year, followed by years and decades of healthy growth. However, numbers released by the county showed a 22 percent dip in January tourism taxes, generating the lowest rate of revenue since 9/11.
County officials say the bonds for a new Marlins ballpark would be repaid over a 40-year period, and a one-month plunge isn’t a major concern. But politicians aren’t elected to determine what happens in 40 years, and with politics playing a huge factor in approving the ballpark proposal, the lessened tourism tax could force some on the city and county commissions to rethink their support of the project. The city commission will take up the issue of the new Marlins ballpark on March 19.
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