Overview
- County commissioners, who held a public workshop Thursday, said talks have advanced but a final deal is not ready.
- The Rays seek about $1 billion in public money split between Hillsborough County and Tampa, with the current plan about $75 million short.
- The county share outlined by staff draws on the Community Investment Tax, a half‑cent sales tax for public projects, plus hotel‑bed taxes and reserves.
- Staff urged trimming projected growth for the sales‑tax fund to 3.7% from 4% after a state policy cut rent‑tax revenue by about 8%, and they proposed a team guarantee to cover any shortfalls.
- A legal memo says the tax can fund a publicly owned ballpark, yet commissioners expect lawsuits as the team presses for early‑May votes, a June 1 deadline, and state backing tied to the Hillsborough College campus.