REDS ALERT: BALLPARK COSTS ON THE RISE IN CINCINNATI

          Hamilton County (OH) officials announced Wednesday that
     taxpayers "could pay as much as" $280M for the Reds' new
     ballpark, up $45M from earlier projections of $235M,
     according to Dan Klepal of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, who
     notes the $280M "doesn't include" money that will be spent
     on "parking garages, road and sewer improvements and the
     demolition of Cinergy Field."  Those costs are "estimated at
     an additional" $54M, which raises the Reds' overall ballpark
     tab to $334M.  Klepal adds the increased cost "could add a
     year to the duration of a half-cent sales tax Hamilton
     County voters passed" in '96 to pay for new facilities for
     the Reds and Bengals.  But Klepal reports that the Reds have
     agreed to add an additional five years to their 30-year
     lease at the new ballpark that begins in 2003.  The Reds
     will contribute to the new stadium by "giving" the county
     three installments of $10M (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/13).