Saying they would never repeat such a sweetheart deal as the Miami Marlins received in 2009, Miami-Dade County commissioners agreed to lobby state legislators to increase the hotel bed tax by 1 percent. That would help pay for $400 million in improvements to the Miami Dolphins' home.
Saying the Dolphins opened up their books to them, unlike dealings with the Marlins, commissioners voted to advance for now the public-private partnership for Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday.
While I dont mind putting this at the feet of the state Legislature, when it comes back, I guarantee Ill have a lot of questions: What benefits this will have for the poor community I represent, said Commissioner Jean Monestime.
Commissioner Xavier L. Suarez cautioned that every aspect of the deal must be made public. If we deceive the people we will never get another bond issue approved.
Approval on the state level isnt a slam dunk from legislators, where the majority has opposed approving new taxes, and the Miami delegation is believed to remain split on the proposal.
To calm concerns that the team was using threats such as moving the team to twist arms to land the stadium, Dolphins CEO Mike Dee told commissioners that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a billionaire real estate broker, was pledged to have the Dolphins play at the stadium through its current lease that runs through 2034.
Were here to stay, Dee said.
By using bed tax money, commissioners pointed out that the bulk of the taxes would come from visitors, not residents.
Still, expecting the Dolphins to contribute more, county commissioners said -- as Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who supported the Marlins Stadium butopposed the ball park deal, continues to negotiate the deal -- they viewed Rosss 51 percent commitment as a starting point.
Gimenez said he has a greater level of confidence in the Dolphins, but reminds sport fans that this is a business that must show a return on investment.
Because of the sour taste created by the tax money directed in 2009 into the nearly year-old $640 million Marlin Park, Dolphin brass ran a public relations blitz prior to the vote to help sway public opinion.
Full-page ads were purchased in the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald on Tuesday, with releases sent to reporters highlighting that Ross would cover 51 percent of the renovation costs.
Just because the Marlins did a bad deal doesnt mean we should oppose a good deal where at least a majority of the cost is paid from private sources and more than 4,000 local jobs are created during construction alone, the release stated.
Under the Marlins deal, Miami and Miami-Dade County put up land and construction costs, while the Marlins, which received $43 million in luxury taxes in the 2008 and 2009 season when the stadium deal was hammered out, contributed $155 million.
Local taxpayers could eventually see an amortized tax tab of $2.4 billion over 40 years due to the local contributions.
The Dolphins did contend the upgrades are needed to continue attracting top-flight nonfootball sporting and entertainment events to the stadium.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
