After an appeal from Pete Bock, Wake County commissioners voted unanimously to commit $1 million in taxes toward North Main Athletic Complex, set to open this summer as home of the Holly Springs Salamanders (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League).
The taxes are levied on hotel rooms and prepared food and beverages.
Funding for the project had been in flux in recent months, with adjustments made to the ballpark plan after Wake County commissioners denying a request for $2.8 million in county funds for the facility, which will also include soccer fields and tennis courts. Deferred for cost-cutting reasons:
- Restrooms along the right field line that were in addition to those on the leftfield side
- Auxiliary concessions area in addition to the main concessions
- Videoboard
- Landscaping, decorative fencing, brick columns and other enhancements along Main Street
- Playground
- Connection of the access road to N.C. 55 Bypass
However, after the fall elections and four new board members selected (essentially, Democrats supporting the spending defeated the four Republicans who defeated the original funding request), a request was made to reconsider the funding request.
The new 1,800-seat ballpark is set to open this season as home of the Salamanders.
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