BUCKS FOR THE BUCS: BED TAX FLOATED FOR TAMPA BAY STADIUM

     Hillsborough County Commission Chair Jim Norman said a
county hotel tax could generate more than $5M annually to help
fund a new stadium for the Bucs, according to the TAMPA TRIBUNE.
This money usually funds such organizations as the County
Convention and Visitors Association and the Outback Bowl.  But,
noting the firm team-imposed December 31 deadline, Norman said
the city could take this money now, and then ask the FL
Legislature later for a restaurant and rental car tax to pay it
back.  Legislative approval for a city restaurant and rental car
tax could not come until March, far after the deadline.  With
seat deposits only totalling 31,543 Monday and the campaign
ending Friday, the stadium task force is expanding its efforts to
hit the goal of 50,000 by marketing to the six counties
surrounding Hillsborough (Joe Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/15).