An investigation by WFAA-TV finds that the 50-50 deal promised by city officials to build a new baseball stadium in Arlington is more likely going to end up being an 80-20 deal.
Brett Shipp and Mark Smith expose a case of over-promising and under-delivering in Arlington, with regard to the recently announced proposal for a new Major League Baseball stadium to house the Texas Rangers.
Though city officials "touted a '50-50' private-public partnership to build a proposed $1 billion retractable roof stadium for the Texas Rangers," Shipp and Smith report that "taxpayers may instead pick up to 80 percent of the tab…"
The $500 million of proposed taxpayer money would come from an extension of the half-cent sales tax that's helping pay for AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. "But an analysis by WFAA-TV reveals that besides extending a half-cent sales tax, and levying hotel and car rental taxes, the approved agreement also includes millions of dollars of additional tax revenues that could flow to the Rangers," according to Shipp and Smith.
The extra taxes would come from an "admissions and parking tax" from the "Master Agreement" approved last month. That extra tax "allows for a 10 percent surcharge on event tickets and up to $3 additional surcharge on parking," and circumvents a state law that slows cities to use such taxes to build stadiums.
FULL STORY: News 8 analysis: Arlington could give away millions in stadium deal
Arlington Reveals $1 Billion Baseball Stadium Proposal
For a little while there, it looked like the Texas Ranger were going urban.
GOP Tax Plan Eliminates Critical Infrastructure-Funding Bond Program
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act would have a deleterious effect on major infrastructure proposed by the private sector. The loss of Private Activity Bonds would hike borrowing rates for road, transit, stadium, and even affordable housing projects.
Virginia's New 395 Express Lanes Guaranteed to Fund Public Transit
The $500 million, eight-mile extension, mostly paid by private funds and express lane tolls, broke ground August 9. Transurban, the private company in the public-private partnership, will pay $15 million annually for public transit improvements.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service