First, allow me to extend a personl thank you to some people who put personal and political capital on the line to pass this bill: Jim Click, our Southern Arizona Legislative Delegation, including Representative Steven, District 26 , the Pima County Board of Supervisors and staff, and the fellow members of the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority. Without a unified and concerted effort by all parties we would not have been able to get this done. Finally, to the Governor, the Speaker of the House and Senate President for their support, without there help, we wouldn’t have a chance to vote on this.
Now we have to be prepared to present this to the voters of Pima County for approval. We must be able to show that the business community will drive this effort and that the accountability of the taxes raised are spent the way we anticipate. This is driven by the business community and will be guided by good practices that will allow us to be successful. An update will be provided as soon as possible.
Below is the press release by Mike Feder on behalf of the PCSTA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Feder, Executive Director
July 13, 2009
GOVERNOR BREWER SIGNS PCSTA BILL
Gov. Jan Brewer signed legislation Monday calling for the economic stimulus bill be presented to the Pima County voters in the next five years. The election could be held as early as November 2010, or as late as November 2014.
If the bill is approved by Pima County voters, the tax money would pay for new and renovated local youth and amateur sports facilities, as well as upgrading the current spring training venues. The money could also pay for the construction of a new MLB complex if there are signed long term agreements and a commitment from teams from Japan to play at Tucson Electric Park.
Some of the bullet points of the bill include:
- This is an economic stimulus bill centered on tourism. Spring training is just a vehicle that helps support tourism. The annual economic impact is $10 million per team, or $20 million in 2009. The youth and amateur sports area could have an even greater financial impact on this community than spring training after 3 - 5 years.
- An anticipated $15 million will be generated annually from the collection of the bill’s receipts. The term of the legislative action would be 30 years.
- A minimum of 10% will go to youth and amateur sports facilities. PCSTA has plans to increase that percentage. The creation, expansion, and renovation of those sports facilities will receive an infusion of over $40 million. The current facilities fall terribly behind other regional cities. The annual revenues will assist venues for all citizens including, but not limited to, fields to accommodate soccer, football, rugby and lacrosse, softball and baseball, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, swimming facilities, and possibly a velodrome for bicyclists.
- If no MLB contracts are secured in the first six years of the bill, 100% of the collected funds will go directly to the the youth and amateur sports initiatives.
- The structure of the proposed revenue stream are taxes primarily on the tourism industry.
- Themoney will be leveraged with the private sector and other public funding sources (matching funds) to provide the most “bang for the buck”.
- This allows the voters of Pima County the same opportunity that citizens of Maricopa County had when they passed their measure nearly ten years ago.
Pima County Sports & Tourism Authority Chairman Tom Tracy said “we would like to sincerely thank the governor, the southern Arizona legislative delegation, Arizona House and Senate leadership, and our stakeholders. We appreciate the bi-partisan spirit displayed. The legislature has given the Pima County voters the chance to speak.”
“We are definitely committed to work on the future of spring training along with just importantly greatly enhancing our youth initiatives. Our dialogue with the Baltimore Orioles and the Japanese major leagues will continue.”
Mike Feder, PCSTA Executive Director, said “this is the best youth and amateur sports funding mechanism in the southwest. We hope the voters will see the major advantages, both economically and recreationally,of this legislation.”
For more information please contact Mike Feder, PCSTA Executive Director at (520) 954-8803 or by e-mail at feder1616@yahoo.com.