CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County commissioners met to discuss the $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays stadium in a workshop on Thursday ahead of vote scheduled for July 30. 

The county was asked to spend $312.5 million from the Tourist Development Tax fund to help pay for the new stadium.

Commissioners only spent about three hours asking questions and going over plans for the stadium, which was something that Commission Chair, Kathleen Peters said was surprising. But during that time, some crucial questions came up that still need to be answered before some commissioners said they would feel comfortable voting in favor of the plan.

“We currently have a stadium, an old stadium, and a parking lot, but this would be a $6.5 billion — probably the largest economic development project ever built in Pinellas County,” said  Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton, as he opened the discussion at Thursday’s County Commission workshop.

With nearly $312.5 million potentially coming from Pinellas County, it’s a decision commissioners said the weren't taking lightly. 

“If I felt rushed today for this vote on Tuesday, I’m a no,” said Commissioner Dave Eggers.

Eggers said even after Thursday's meeting, he still had concerns about the county using its bed-tax money for the stadium, and how the expenditure would impact other projects, like beach renourishment.

“It is enough for me to truly vote no on it," he said. "I think there’s a real issue here with opportunity availability for use of the funds we’re putting into the project. I understand the benefits of the project — I’ve heard them, I’ve gone through them, but we have a different responsibility to make sure it’s fair."

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said he understood commissioners having questions about the project, because it was a lengthy process for city council members to get to the point they were ready to vote. But ultimately, he said he’s not worried.

“The first time we had a committee of the whole, there were a ton of questions," Welch said. "We took those questions one by one — you saw a lot of those end up in the ultimate agreements. I foresee the same process happening here."

Pinellas County commissioners are set to take the $312.5 million vote on July 30, with four of the seven required to vote in favor of it for the measure to pass.

Eggers said that while he’s just one vote, he needs more information before he can vote to approve the plan.

“If I feel like this is being pushed through on Tuesday, I’ll vote no," he said. "Even if I might be in favor of it, let’s not rush this deal. On the other hand, if we come together on Tuesday and have the questions answered that we have asked, and have opportunity to have further dialog, um, yeah we can probably have a vote on Tuesday."