An assessment on downtown businesses is a key component of funding for a new Tulsa Drillers ballpark, but opponents raised objections before yesterday's vote.
An assessment on downtown businesses is a key component of funding for a new Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) ballpark, but opponents raised enough objections to make yesterday's vote close.
The assessment provides 25 million of the funding for the $60 million project; donations account for $30 million and $5 million from the Drillers. The assessment is on downtown businesses and property owners and was also given preliminary approval by the council last year.
But with a final vote looming, opponents raised objections to city council members and the state attorney general, arguing their businesses would not benefit from a new ballpark. They didn't get quite the answer they wanted from the attorney general, who came short of declaring the assessment unlawful, but they did get the attention of city councilmembers. Still, despite the objections, the measure passed, 5-4 .
The new ballpark is slated to open for the 2010 season.
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