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The possibility of a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays is stirring up a different kind of excitement, one that involves debates over public transparency and financial responsibility. As discussions about a new stadium gain momentum, questions are emerging about the accessibility of information regarding this multi-million dollar project.
In Hillsborough County, commissioners find themselves at odds over whether to release draft documents related to the stadium deal while negotiations are still in progress. This issue has sparked a broader conversation about how much insight the public should have into the process, especially when taxpayer dollars are potentially at stake.
Central to this debate is the notion of transparency. Commissioner Joshua Wostal voiced a strong desire for openness during a recent meeting, emphasizing that the documents pertaining to the deal should be accessible to the public. “I want transparency, and I’m not making a public records request,” he declared, highlighting the importance of public oversight in financial matters of this magnitude.
As the county continues to explore various funding and structural options for the project, the question remains: Should taxpayers be granted a peek behind the curtain before any agreement is set in stone? The outcome of this debate could set a precedent for how such high-profile negotiations are handled in the future.
Wostal argued that draft documents and internal records related to the deal exist and should be made public, especially given the potential financial impact.
“And just for the media and everybody else, the records in question are there,” he said.
Wostal has also warned that using Community Investment Tax dollars to fund a stadium could lead to legal challenges.
“I want to be clear, it’s not if we’re going to be sued on this, it’s when we get sued on this,” he said.
County leaders pushed back, saying no draft documents from the Rays have been formally provided.
“I understood the request to release documents that were provided to us by the Rays as it relates to draft documents. That is something that we don’t have,” a county attorney said during the meeting.
Some residents share concerns about how the project could be funded and whether it could face legal scrutiny.
“We might file a lawsuit against this if they go on down this road,” Tampa resident James Davidson said.
Other commissioners cautioned that releasing information too early could complicate negotiations and create confusion.
“What I’m trying to do is create an orderly process for how we can release information to the public and have the information released to us,” Commissioner Harry Cohen said.
Commissioners said if a deal is reached, they want a public workshop to review the details before any final decision is made.