Lowry Calls Special Session On Ballpark Lawmakers Meet Today To Consider Financing New Mariners Ballpark
Washington lawmakers will gather in special session today to consider financing a new outdoor ballpark for the Seattle Mariners.
Gov. Mike Lowry called the special session Wednesday after lengthy meeting with leaders of both houses and both political parties. He said approving the $320 million package of state, local and Mariner contributions will be difficult and could take more than just one day.
“I feel very good, very optimistic we’re going to get there,” the governor told a news conference.
The session, to convene at 10 a.m., will focus on a financing plan crafted in days of closed-door negotiations involving the governor and leaders of the four legislative caucuses. It would rely almost solely on the sale of construction bonds.
The Mariners, despite their best season in 19 years, expect to lose $30 million this year, bringing losses to $67 million since the new owners bought the club 3-1/2 years ago. The team is playing Cleveland in the American League championship series.
Owners blame the red ink on the configuration and lack of amenities in the multipurpose Kingdome. They want an outdoor ballpark with a retractable roof, a grass playing field, luxury boxes and club seats.
If no stadium financing plan is in place by Oct. 30, the owners say they will put the team up for sale, virtually ensuring a move out of Seattle.
Senate Majority Leader Marcus Gaspard, D-Puyallup, predicted the Senate Democrats and Republicans would join in a bipartisan vote to approve the plan. Gaspard said he believed he could deliver 13 of the 25 votes necessary to pass the Senate, leaving it to Republicans to produce the other 12.
Senate Minority Leader Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue, said it would be difficult if not impossible to get that level of support from his caucus.
Both said, however, that it would be a tougher sell in the Republican-controlled House.
House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee, confirmed that his caucus is deeply divided. “It’s tough in there,” Ballard said on leaving the caucus room. He said reaction to the package was “not overwhelming.”
Many of his conservative members ran on tax reduction platforms and are reluctant to authorize tax increases for King County or to dip into state coffers.
Lowry said he personally will lobby the Legislature today.
“On the 30th of October, the team is for sale,” the governor said. “The most popular team in the world will be up for sale if we do not act.”
Lowry predicted “a relatively short session,” but backed away from earlier suggestions it could end in a day.
“It’s tough - just as we thought it would be,” he said. “I don’t think it will be (accomplished) without heavy lifting.”
Under the plan drafted by Lowry and legislative leaders, the state and King County each would finance $127.5 million in bonds, and the state would contribute $20 million in cash. The Mariners would pay $45 million.
The state’s share of the bonds would be retired with $4 million a year in existing sales tax revenue; $3 million to be raised through a new sports lottery; a 2 percent admissions tax on the baseball stadium, worth about $600,000 a year, and a special stadium license, which would bring in about $300,000.
The county’s share of the bonds would be paid off with new taxes that the King County Council could impose with legislative permission.
The Legislature would authorize the county to impose for 30 years, if necessary, up to a 1 percent surtax on sales at restaurants, taverns and bars to raise an estimated $18 million a year; up to a 2 percent increase in the car rental tax to bring in $3.5 million a year; and up to a 5 percent admissions tax on stadium events, to raise $1.3 million annually.
If the county levied all the taxes, it would bring in far more money than needed to retire the county’s share of the bonds. Some of the excess could be used to finance Kingdome repairs and improvements.
The Washington Restaurant Association has said it would support a half-percent restaurant, bar and tavern tax. But the association said Wednesday it would fight a 1 percent increase.
“We have agreed to a half percent surcharge because we support the new ballpark,” Association Vice President Gene Vosberg said.
But he continued, “If King County Council members want to raise additional revenue to cover Kingdome repairs and renovations, courtroom security or social services, they won’t get away with saddling our industry to do so.”
The stadium bailout plan was worked out after King County voters last month narrowly defeated a sales-tax increase to raise money for a new stadium.
xxxx WHAT’S AT STAKE If no stadium financing plan is in place by Oct. 30, the owners say they will put the team up for sale, virtually ensuring a move out of Seattle.