Voters may get a say in whether tax dollars can be used to renovate the Miami Dolphins football stadium.
A Florida Senate panel on Wednesday unanimously approved a measure (SB 306) that would guarantee $3 million a year for the next 30 years to help pay for upgrades at Sun Life Stadium. But the committee changed the bill to require a referendum before local bed taxes can be used for the project.
“Today's unanimous vote by the Senate's Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee provides new momentum to our plans to bring Super Bowls, BCS title games and international soccer tournaments -- and the hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity that means -- back to Miami Dade County," said Mike Dee, president and chief executive officer of the Dolphins. “It's also recognition that this is a far different project than previous ones, with the Dolphin's paying a majority of the costs without using one dime of local property taxpayer money in any form and ultimately letting the voters have the final say."
The legislation still must go through two more Senate committees before it reaches the full Senate.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wants to use state and local to help pay for $400 million worth of renovations. Backers contend it will help bring back the Super Bowl to the area. The Miami Hurricanes also play at Sun Life.