A tax on parking spaces in the City of Cleveland is the
recommended option for financing the renovation of Cleveland
Stadium, sources tell the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Stephen
Phillips reports that unnamed members of a task force appointed
by Cleveland Mayor Michael White to determine the best way to pay
for renovations, have said that a citywide parking tax "is the
most feasible of the revenue producers under consideration."
Several members say that the parking tax must be supplemented
with other revenue-producers to pay for the $130M renovations,
including contributions from the team or fans. Gov. George
Voinovich has said the state would contribute up to 12% of the
renovation costs through OH's capital improvements budget.
Officials hope the renovations can be completed by '99; the
Browns lease at the Stadium expires in '98 (Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER, 4/26).
POLITICAL MOVEMENT: Faced with the "threat of Ohio losing"
its two NFL teams, state Sen. Stanley Aronoff urged a statewide
task force studying stadium improvements for the Bengals and
Browns to speed up its work. Aronoff called the situation "close
to becoming a crisis" and said that the governor's willingness
for the state to contribute up to 12% of the cost of renovating
Cleveland Stadium should mean equal treatment in Cincinnati
(CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/27).
