MIAMI, OK.--- Miami voters hit the polls Tuesday to decide whether or not to fund a multi-million dollar event center by extending an existing .65% sales tax. Miami voters passed the .65% sales tax a few years ago to repair city streets.
Now, the group "Citizens For A Better Miami" wants the tax extended to help fund an $8.8 million event center and sports complex. It would be built at NEO's A&M College Red Robertson Field. The stadium would be a 3-way partnership between the city, NEO, and Miami High School.
An economic impact study shows the complex would generate $700,000 annually. If the proposition passes, the sales tax would fund $2.5 million of the project. The rest will be funded trough revenue, leases, donations, and naming rights. The .65% sales tax would also continue funding street improvement projects.
"We dove into that right away. 'Hey, listen we need streets here and we do not want to interfere with the street project," so it's extremely important that we continue on and not have that kind of a problem," says Rich Lillard, Citizens for a Better Miami.
If voters agree to fund the complex, the sales tax will be extended from 12 to 22 years. NEO will be in charge of maintaining the facility at an estimated $120,000 a year. Money generated from the complex will help pay down the project's debt.
Now, the group "Citizens For A Better Miami" wants the tax extended to help fund an $8.8 million event center and sports complex. It would be built at NEO's A&M College Red Robertson Field. The stadium would be a 3-way partnership between the city, NEO, and Miami High School.
An economic impact study shows the complex would generate $700,000 annually. If the proposition passes, the sales tax would fund $2.5 million of the project. The rest will be funded trough revenue, leases, donations, and naming rights. The .65% sales tax would also continue funding street improvement projects.
"We dove into that right away. 'Hey, listen we need streets here and we do not want to interfere with the street project," so it's extremely important that we continue on and not have that kind of a problem," says Rich Lillard, Citizens for a Better Miami.
If voters agree to fund the complex, the sales tax will be extended from 12 to 22 years. NEO will be in charge of maintaining the facility at an estimated $120,000 a year. Money generated from the complex will help pay down the project's debt.
