Hillsborough takes next step toward use of CIT, tourist taxes for Rays stadium
By Rick Mayer
November 10, 2026 at 1:59 PM EST
Votes included setting aside $90 million in the county's renewed Community Investment Tax for the project and authorizing $263 million in bonds backed by tourist development taxes.
Hillsborough County commissioners on Tuesday approved four procedural steps toward fulfilling their financial commitment to the construction of the planned $2.36 billion Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.
The actions include setting aside $90 million in the county's renewed Community Investment Tax fund for the project and authorizing the county to issue up to $263 million in bonds backed by tourist development taxes.
The $90 million appropriation is part of Hillsborough’s $360 million commitment from the renewed CIT, which takes effect Dec. 1. The item passed 5-2, with commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda voting no.
ALSO READ: Tampa City Council approves the community benefits agreement with Rays
Commissioners also voted to add the stadium to the list of infrastructure projects eligible for the CIT revenue. That change requires a public hearing because the county must hold a noticed hearing before amending the approved project list.
Most of the public comment involved concerns about the last week’s approval of Amendment 3, which will reduce the amount of property taxes available to local governments.
Elizabeth Braden asked the commission to hit the “pause button” on the financing.
“To move forward with a contract of this magnitude without recalculating the long-term compounding impact on our post-amendment three budget would be standard political arrogance and gross financial negligence,” said Braden.
Doug Batista, however, commended the board for being responsible and “planning for Amendment 3 in June prior to the deal being passed.”
Use of the tourist tax involved two votes. Commissioners included the ballpark project as an anticipated use of the Tourist Development Plan. That would cover debt service on bonds as well as a separate $40 million payment from tourist tax reserves.
A separate resolution authorized the county to issue up to $263 million in bonds from the so-called bed tax for its share of the construction costs. The bonds would be repaid from the third- and sixth-cent tourist development taxes, not property taxes.
The latter items passed 5-1, with Cameron Cepeda voting no and Wostal abstaining.
However, the county has also committed $103 million from other unspecified funds and $30 million in federal disaster-recovery money.
“The factual reality is that this deal was not drafted with Amendment 3 in mind; this $103 million or so of property taxes could absolutely be used to stabilize the county's finances as they figure out how to manage the passage of Amendment 3,” said Wostal, a staunch opponent of the stadium deal.
ALSO READ: The new Rays stadium deal causes a stir at Hillsborough College
Tuesday’s votes did not release any funds or begin the bonding validation process, and commissioners must approve final bond details before issuance. That is expected in December.
“By approving this today, that doesn't mean we start giving the money over,” County Attorney Julia Mandell told the board. “It means we initiate the process because among the conditions precedent of us funding any portion of the stadium is for us to go through a bond validation proceeding.”
The actions were part of the stadium development and funding agreement approved by the county, the city of Tampa and the Rays in August. That agreement calls for the county to provide up to $796 million toward the project.
The city is committed to contributing $80 million financed through bonds. Property taxes are not expected to affect the plan.
The Rays will cover more than $1.3 billion and all cost overruns.
The contract covers stadium construction on a 115-acre Drew Park parcel now used by Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The Rays plan to open the stadium for the 2029 season.
A privately funded, mixed-use development is planned on the property around the ballpark. A new Community Development District would collect tax-increment revenue generated by the development to help finance stadium infrastructure.
The creation of the district and changes to Tampa's existing Community Redevelopment Areas require approvals by the city and county, including formal action by the Tampa CRA Board.
The CRA board was scheduled to implement promises made in the stadium contract during a meeting on Thursday. However, a memo from CRA Attorney Clifford Shepard requests a continuance until Dec. 10 for “additional time to work with the City Attorney’s Office and Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office to finalize all required documents prior to CRA Board review.”
By then, the council will have filled the seat vacated by Luis Viera, who resigned to run for the state House. Viera, a Democrat, defeated Lisette Bonano to represent House District 67.
The appointment is considered vital because there is currently a 3-3 split among council members on paying for the stadium. Viera supported the plan.
The actions include setting aside $90 million in the county's renewed Community Investment Tax fund for the project and authorizing the county to issue up to $263 million in bonds backed by tourist development taxes.
The $90 million appropriation is part of Hillsborough’s $360 million commitment from the renewed CIT, which takes effect Dec. 1. The item passed 5-2, with commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda voting no.
ALSO READ: Tampa City Council approves the community benefits agreement with Rays
Commissioners also voted to add the stadium to the list of infrastructure projects eligible for the CIT revenue. That change requires a public hearing because the county must hold a noticed hearing before amending the approved project list.
Most of the public comment involved concerns about the last week’s approval of Amendment 3, which will reduce the amount of property taxes available to local governments.
Elizabeth Braden asked the commission to hit the “pause button” on the financing.
“To move forward with a contract of this magnitude without recalculating the long-term compounding impact on our post-amendment three budget would be standard political arrogance and gross financial negligence,” said Braden.
Doug Batista, however, commended the board for being responsible and “planning for Amendment 3 in June prior to the deal being passed.”
Use of the tourist tax involved two votes. Commissioners included the ballpark project as an anticipated use of the Tourist Development Plan. That would cover debt service on bonds as well as a separate $40 million payment from tourist tax reserves.
A separate resolution authorized the county to issue up to $263 million in bonds from the so-called bed tax for its share of the construction costs. The bonds would be repaid from the third- and sixth-cent tourist development taxes, not property taxes.
The latter items passed 5-1, with Cameron Cepeda voting no and Wostal abstaining.
However, the county has also committed $103 million from other unspecified funds and $30 million in federal disaster-recovery money.
“The factual reality is that this deal was not drafted with Amendment 3 in mind; this $103 million or so of property taxes could absolutely be used to stabilize the county's finances as they figure out how to manage the passage of Amendment 3,” said Wostal, a staunch opponent of the stadium deal.
ALSO READ: The new Rays stadium deal causes a stir at Hillsborough College
Tuesday’s votes did not release any funds or begin the bonding validation process, and commissioners must approve final bond details before issuance. That is expected in December.
“By approving this today, that doesn't mean we start giving the money over,” County Attorney Julia Mandell told the board. “It means we initiate the process because among the conditions precedent of us funding any portion of the stadium is for us to go through a bond validation proceeding.”
The actions were part of the stadium development and funding agreement approved by the county, the city of Tampa and the Rays in August. That agreement calls for the county to provide up to $796 million toward the project.
The city is committed to contributing $80 million financed through bonds. Property taxes are not expected to affect the plan.
The Rays will cover more than $1.3 billion and all cost overruns.
The contract covers stadium construction on a 115-acre Drew Park parcel now used by Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The Rays plan to open the stadium for the 2029 season.
A privately funded, mixed-use development is planned on the property around the ballpark. A new Community Development District would collect tax-increment revenue generated by the development to help finance stadium infrastructure.
The creation of the district and changes to Tampa's existing Community Redevelopment Areas require approvals by the city and county, including formal action by the Tampa CRA Board.
The CRA board was scheduled to implement promises made in the stadium contract during a meeting on Thursday. However, a memo from CRA Attorney Clifford Shepard requests a continuance until Dec. 10 for “additional time to work with the City Attorney’s Office and Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office to finalize all required documents prior to CRA Board review.”
By then, the council will have filled the seat vacated by Luis Viera, who resigned to run for the state House. Viera, a Democrat, defeated Lisette Bonano to represent House District 67.
The appointment is considered vital because there is currently a 3-3 split among council members on paying for the stadium. Viera supported the plan.