CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County Commissioners will meet Thursday to discuss plans to contribute nearly $313 million towards a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

This is the last vote needed to approve a new $1.3 billion ballpark and the surrounding redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. As of Thursday morning, the vote is scheduled for July 30 following a public hearing.

What You Need To Know

  • The Rays are asking for nearly $313 million from the Tourist Development Tax fund to help pay for the ballpark 

  • Four out of seven county commissioners must vote in favor for the plans to pass 

  •  Public hearing and final vote scheduled for July 30 

  • PDF: Hines + Tampa Bay Rays Stadium Presentation

Thursday’s work session will not have a public comment session and is a chance for county commissioners to ask questions about the proposed plans. The proposal needs four out of seven votes in order to pass.

Ahead of the work session, Spectrum Bay News 9 asked each of the seven county commissioners their stance on the deal. Three commissioners said they support — or are leaning towards supporting the project, two said they have some questions that need answering, and two would not comment publicly ahead of the vote.

Last week, the St. Pete City Council in a 5-3 vote approved spending $429.5 million on the 65-acre project by taking out bonds and using tax increment funding.

 

Pinellas County’s contribution would come from tourist development tax dollars, or bed tax money. Real estate lawyer Charles Gallagher called the county approval process a bit of a smoother path.

 

“The bed tax is a perfectly reasonable use of those funds,” he said. “All these folks coming down to hotels and resorts and paying taxes for the nights … that’s where that money comes from. In some respect it’s found money because it has to go towards tourism anyways.”

Dylan Dames with the non-profit Faith in Florida feels the current agreement will not do enough for residents who need an affordable place to live.

“I think a lot of people were disappointed with the size of the handout being given to a private entity during one of the most tough times for housing and development,” he said.

Dames is closely watching to see how commissioners vote, but is staying optimistic.

“It’s not over until the deal is signed, until the deal is closed on the land sale,” he said.

Thursday’s work session will be streamed on YouTube at  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakmugpSeqsZbfF5P5P90Dg and on the Pinellas County website at https://pinellas.gov/live-webcast-meetings/. It is also available on Spectrum Channel 637.