AUDITORS REVIEWING ICE PALACE: SURCHARGE ON COMP TICKETS?

          In Tampa, "auditors are checking to see if taxpayers
     have received all money owed to the city and county from
     ticket surcharges at the Ice Palace," according to Joe
     Henderson of the TAMPA TRIBUNE.  Officials "became
     concerned" when a recent surcharge payment from Spectacor
     Management Group (SMG), which controls daily operations of
     the Ice Palace, "was less than it should have been."  The
     TRIBUNE's Henderson writes that after "being questioned by
     the Tampa Sports Authority, which owns the Ice Palace, SMG
     ... acknowledged its mistake and brought the payments up to
     date."  The city and county receive surcharges totaling $.75
     on each ticket sold for all Ice Palace events, which goes to
     "reimburse taxpayers for annual subsidies" for the $154M
     building.  The county also receives 10% of all luxury suite
     rentals.  The audit isn't expected to be finished for about
     a month.  Officials "also want an answer whether teams and
     promoters at the Ice Palace should pay surcharges on
     complimentary tickets" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 6/27).