Miami, Fla., Council Continues to Debate Stadium Proposal.

Publication: The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2001 The Miami Herald

Apr. 27--TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--Amid threats by the commissioner of baseball that the Florida Marlins might fold without a new stadium, and facing Senate President John McKay's rigid opposition to financing the ballpark with state money, Miami-Dade lawmakers will make a radical new proposal today to pay for a new home for the team.

They want to scrap a record-high state sales tax rebate of at least $122 million and generate the same amount of money from a 20 percent parking surcharge on cars in Miami city lots, subject to approval by Miami city voters in a referendum this fall.

"Once and for all, the voters of Miami will be able to decide if they want a baseball team and on these terms," said Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, an architect of the proposal, which was put together largely without the knowledge of Marlins lobbyists.

Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Gaston Cantens and Gus Barreiro also were part of late-night negotiations on the amendment, which is expected to surface publicly in the House today.

But the new proposal is controversial for a different reason: It would force the city to raise property taxes, city commissioners said.

Meeting Thursday night, commissioners immediately protested the new proposal, saying it would force a city tax increase. The city now receives all of the parking surcharge money, $13 million...

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