TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, filed a bill Monday that would eliminate an unused pool of state sales-tax dollars originally intended to help build and upgrade professional sports stadiums.
Lee's bill (SB 778) would repeal a controversial 2014 law that created a stadium-funding program.
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The program, pushed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, makes available $13 million a year for stadium work.
But House leaders have blocked the use of the money.
“With the challenges our state faces funding essential education, health care and hurricane recovery costs, it's hard to justify spending additional tax dollars on sports teams,” Lee said in a prepared statement.
The money has been unsuccessfully sought in past years for improvements at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Daytona International Speedway, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami-Dade County and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and for construction of a soccer stadium in Orlando.
With the House blocking the funding, backers of professional sports stadiums aren't seeking state money this year.
The deadline to apply was last Wednesday. Lee's proposal is similar to a measure (HB 6005) filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah.