Marlins’ Tax Rebate Efforts For New Ballpark Fail Again

Tax Rebate Efforts For New Marlins Ballpark Strike Out In State Senate

After again being rejected in their bid for a $60M state sales tax rebate, the Marlins indicated Saturday that they will “continue efforts to put together a funding plan for a proposed” $500M ballpark, according to Richards & Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. The rebate — which would have given the Marlins $2M a year for 30 years — “would have provided the missing piece in the funding plan, which includes contributions from the county, city and team.” But Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess said that he is “still ‘optimistic’ a deal will be struck.” Burgess: “We’re not going to give up. It’s pretty unfortunate the state wasn’t able to consider it (but) we’ll regroup” (MIAMI HERALD, 5/6). In Ft. Lauderdale, Talalay & Kleindienst noted the tax rebate failed “despite the House’s overwhelming 86-24 vote for the measure last week.” Legislators said that the bill “was the victim of political wrangling between the two chambers in the final days of the session and a long-running feud” between Sens. Rudy Garcia and Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who “both supported the measure, but couldn’t agree on whose name would appear on the bill” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 5/4). In Miami, Yudy Pineiro noted House members “blame Miami senators for not pushing hard enough.” State House Speaker Marco Rubio: “I passed it out of the House. That’s all I could do” (MIAMI HERALD, 5/5).

NEXT MOVES: The Marlins in a statement said, “Starting immediately, we will all begin the process of moving forward to attempt to secure the future of baseball in South Florida” (Marlins). Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said, “It’s very disappointing. I thought this was going to be the year” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 5/4). In DC, Kevin Brewer writes, “The Marlins likely will be stuck in Miami until their lease runs out in 2010, but it is time for them to leave. The sooner, the better. Other cities should line up for this franchise, which boasts one of the greatest collections of young talent in baseball” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/7).