Marlins Take Step Closer To New Ballpark, But Work Remains

Florida State House Approves Tax Break To Help Build New Ballpark

The Florida state House on Thursday “overwhelmingly endorsed a $60[M] tax break to help build” a new Marlins ballpark in Miami by an 86-24 vote, according to Linda Kleindienst of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. The money would come from sales tax revenues “generated by the team inside the venue that would be kept to help pay for the ballpark instead of going to the state.” Miami-Dade County and Miami officials, who have worked out a $490M financing plan with the team and MLB, “estimate the new stadium could generate up to $9[M] a year in sales tax revenues.” Kleindienst notes the plan would allow $2M “to remain in Miami each year for the next 30 years to help finance stadium construction and maintenance.” The measure now goes to the state Senate, “where it is expected to be a tougher sell.” State Senate Majority Leader Dan Webster said, “There still is about half the chamber against this issue. It’s an uphill battle” (SUN-SENTINEL, 4/27). Webster controls whether the bill comes up for a vote, and he said, “It won’t be heard.” In Miami, Yudy Pineiro notes the Senate is considering a separate bill that would give the Marlins, Magic and Lightning a one-time payment of $32.6M each, but that bill “appears dead” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/27).