Marlins President David Samson told Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, City Manager Johnny Martinez and City Attorney Julie Bru that the team "would not kick in toward any unexpected tax expense" from the parking garages the city built at the Marlins' new ballpark, according to Patricia Mazzei of the MIAMI HERALD. A summit at city hall last Wednesday was "held to ask the Marlins to help cover property taxes -- nearly $1.2 million a year -- for four parking garages" at the newly constructed venue. Sources who attended the meeting said that Samson "said his ballclub would not fork over any cash or renegotiate its deal with the city and the county to give Miami better terms." Regalado said of Samson, "He just said, 'We're willing to help, but we're not willing to pay more.'" The property tax issue is "under scrutiny as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into the financing of the new $634 million ballpark." The SEC, which "subpoenaed the city and county Thursday, specifically asked Miami for documents concerning whether the garages would be subject to property taxes" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/7).
