HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Tampa city councilman is making a new pitch in the latest maneuvering ahead of lawmakers’ vote on a proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium along Dale Mabry Highway.

City councilman Bill Carlson is touting a new plan that he said would involve no community investment tax or taxes from the city. According to what Carlson has told multiple outlets, the stadium funding could come from property taxes generated by the Rays’ entertainment district development that would surround the ballpark.

According to estimates from Carlson, taxes generated from the entertainment district’s fund could reach $1.5 billion to $2 billion over 35 years. Those funds would be earmarked for city-wide infrastructure needs.

“What I’m trying to do is create a win-win-win situation,” Carlson tweeted over the weekend. “The city went from having to pay money, taking money from other sources, to now participating in a revenue stream that will fund infrastructure without raising taxes.”

“What I’m trying to do is create a win-win-win situation. The city went from having to pay money, taking money from other sources, to now participating in a revenue stream that will fund infrastructure without raising taxes.” https://t.co/bAKRMPAjoP

— Bill Carlson (@carlsonbill) August 9, 2026

The Rays have committed to spending $1.2 billion on the project and were previously seeking $976 million in public contributions to the project, with $796 million from the county and $180 million from the city.

Under the current proposal, $80 million would come from the half-cent sales tax and $100 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency.

A new arrangement could eliminate the need for the $180 million.

In May, by a 4-3 vote, the council supported a stadium proposal memo, which is currently a non-binding agreement. At the time, Carlson said he would ultimately vote no on the final project.

But Carlson has recently spent time discussing the project and financing in detail with Rays CEO Ken Babby.

The project calls for a $2.3-billion proposal involving a stadium at the current site of Hillsborough College, across from Raymond James Stadium.

Earlier this year. Tampa city leaders pushed back a vote on the stadium until later this month.

In May, by a 5-2 vote, Hillsborough County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding related to the building of a new stadium. The Hillsborough College Board of Trustees also gave its OK to a lease agreement.

Team officials say they want to be in the new facility in time for the 2029 season.

The county commission and city council would have to agree to any changes on the proposal and then vote to approve.

Carlson said team officials have been receptive.