November 20, 2002

D.C. debates who should fund stadium

To no one's surprise, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' promised $200 million in funding for a new baseball stadium (assuming a big-league team can be landed) turns out not to have meant the city actually has $200 million to spare. "With this economy, there is no extra money for this project," D.C. council finance committee head Jack Evans told the Washington Post, suggesting the "private sector" could instead build a projected $400 million ballpark. Mayor Williams, meanwhile, is looking at ticket and concessions taxes, plus possibly a new lottery or cigarette tax, to raise his promised share of the money. Don't be surprised if TIFs rear their ugly head in this one.