A newly issued legal opinion issued by Bryant Miller Olive<\/a> says Hillsborough County\u00a0can use Community Investment Tax (CIT) dollars\u00a0to help fund a new stadium \u2014 even if it\u2019s leased to a professional baseball team.<\/p>\nWhat is the CIT?<\/p>\n
The Community Investment Tax is a\u00a0half-percent sales tax approved by voters in 1996\u00a0to fund infrastructure projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed deal<\/p>\n
The plan calls for a\u00a0$2.3 billion stadium and mixed-use development\u00a0in West Tampa on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College.<\/p>\n
Under the proposal:<\/p>\n
The Rays would cover roughly half the cost
\nTaxpayers would fund the remaining portion through public sources, including CIT dollars<\/p>\n
Why the legal opinion matters<\/p>\n
The question of whether CIT funds could legally be used for a stadium has been a major point of debate.<\/p>\n
Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers requested the legal review after hearing conflicting concerns from the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we’re hearing now is that we’re receiving so many emails that the funds cannot be used. And we’re hearing that the funds can be used. So the legal opinion would answer the question for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The opinion concludes:<\/p>\n
A publicly owned stadium qualifies as a\u00a0\u201crecreational public facility\u201d\u00a0under Florida law
\nCIT funds can be used for such facilities
\nThere is\u00a0no legal restriction in place, since a proposed ban on using the funds for a stadium was never formally approved<\/p>\n
Public debate continues<\/p>\n
Not everyone agrees with moving forward without voter input.<\/p>\n
Stephanie Poynor, a member of Tampa\u2019s Citizens Advisory Budget and Finance Committee, says the public should have a direct say.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city needs to vote on it. But I think the county does, too, because there\u2019s 1.4 million people who live in this county and they should be making the decision on whether or not this happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poynor also raised concerns about how using CIT funds could impact other infrastructure priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cabsolutely It will. You know, it’s going to take from the roads. It’s going to take from the stormwater. It’s going to take from the sidewalks. Now, is it going to give back? That’s the real question?\u201d<\/p>\n
What happens next?<\/p>\n
County commissioners are expected to continue discussions during an upcoming workshop Thursday, where they will review details of the proposal.<\/p>\n
No vote is scheduled yet, but\u00a0formal decisions could come as soon as next month, with multiple approvals required before any deal is finalized.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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