(The Center Square) – Plans for the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium received a green light from county officials Wednesday after some residents spoke out against using taxpayer money to help fund construction.
The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, for plans to construct a new stadium at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus.
Public funding would contribute $976 million toward the total construction cost of $2.3 billion. The payment schedule would be spread over four years ending in fiscal year 2030.
During Wednesday’s meeting, some residents criticized the use of taxpayer money for the stadium project.
Carmen Edmonds, chair of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, said the party’s executive committee voted unanimously to urge commissioners to reject the MOU.
“We do not want tax money going to the Rays stadium,” Edmonds said. “It’s just a terrible use of our tax dollars. There are too many other things in our county that need to be done, and it was a unanimous vote.”
Edmonds said an online survey conducted over the past several days found that 89% of respondents opposed using Community Investment Tax, or CIT, money for the stadium.
“So these are your taxpayers and your voters telling you in large numbers we do not want our CIT tax money used for the Rays stadium,” Edmonds said. “They have the money to do it. They want our money up front. It makes you wonder why.”
The CIT funding refers to the Community Investment Tax, from which $440 million would go toward the stadium. Other primary sources of public funding would include the Tourist Development Tax, Community Redevelopment Area tax revenue, the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Fund and some county reserve money.
Commissioner Christine Miller said the MOU is nonbinding and simply allows negotiations to move forward while details are finalized.
“This will not create an additional tax burden on our residents. I would not, have not, and will not support that,” Miller said. “These decisions are never easy. They should be debated thoughtfully and openly. But throughout our history, Hillsborough County has grown strongest when we were willing to invest in ourselves, believe in our potential, and think boldly about what the next generation can inherit from the decisions we make today.”
The proposed stadium would include year-round event space and a seating capacity of 31,000. Officials hope to complete construction in time for the start of the 2029 season.
