Related articles:

Rockies make initial pitch for a Marana training siteSpring training's impact exceeds economic numbers Business group's plan for baseball only a first step State wants Pima to stay in game

Other articles by Erica Meltzer:

Medical provider for jail to be fired County to rethink raises after state budget cuts hit County defies Brewer on ballot scans 3 supervisors far outpace challengers on fundraising Some of Tucson's top jobs are vacant Plan: Make subdivision access more kid-friendly Dumping, animal fees might be raised Residents' suit cites exacerbated home flooding County will lead the country in LEED Lack of funding puts joint courts complex on hold

Health Care
FRONT OFFICE Trades/Construction
Lectra-Serv, Inc
Electricians & Helpers General
Prestige maintenance USA
Custodian Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Administrative & Professional
Tucson Symphony
Teleservices Sales/Courtesy Rep Mechanical
Pioneer Landscaping
Diesel Fleet Mechanic Production and Manufacturing
Pioneer Landscaping
Crushing Crew

Spring training may have a $30 million economic impact in the Tucson area. But taxes from those visitors aren't enough to pay for stadium improvements, a group of business leaders told the Pima County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

So to keep spring training from leaving, the community needs to pay an extra half-cent sales tax on restaurants and "amusements," like movies, theater and concert tickets, bowling, billiards, carnivals, fairs and other sporting events, and not just rely on tourist items like hotels and rental cars

The group, calling itself Bases Loaded Tucson, has prepared draft legislation calling for creation of a regional authority empowered to impose those taxes.

Decisions about how to spend the money would be made by a 13-member appointed board composed of representatives of the affected industries and Pima County governments.

The proposal needs approval first from the Legislature and then from Pima County voters.

The model is the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, which uses a mix of tourist taxes on hotels and rental cars, plus revenues from new sports facilities to pay for those facilities in Maricopa County.

But Tom Tracy, a board member of the interim sports authority and member of the Southern Arizona Lodging and Resort Association, said Maricopa County's funding sources won't work for Pima County.

The county already has a hotel bed tax and car rental surcharge that generates $4.6 million a year, but most of that money goes to pay the debt from building Tucson Electric Park and cover the stadium's operating expenses.

"It can't be just a tourism-related tax," Tracy said.

The proposal drew criticism from Supervisor Ray Carroll, who said year-round county residents shouldn't pay any more taxes, but he joined the rest of the Board of Supervisors in voting unanimously to create an interim Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority, and to appoint a board that includes the members of Bases Loaded.

Supervisor Ramón Valadez said spring training has cultural value beyond its economic impact and thanked the business leaders who put together the working group.

Supervisor Richard Elías warned the group against "cannibalizing" one Pima County jurisdiction to feed another.

Elías was referring to meetings between Bases Loaded, Marana and the Colorado Rockies about using a future sports authority to fund a new stadium in Marana for the Colorado Rockies, who currently train at the city's Hi Corbett Field.

The Rockies have asked for $20 million in improvements to the city stadium and could break their contract if no replacement team is found for the Chicago White Sox, who plan to leave Tucson Electric Park for a new stadium in Glendale.

The pending departure of the White Sox has given a sense of urgency to those trying to keep spring training in Tucson. Bases Loaded sent its draft legislation to Phoenix even before receiving final approval for the interim sports authority from the supervisors.

Tracy said the group hopes to get legislative approval before this session ends, but that would be an uphill battle. The proposal has not found a sponsor.

"It's not going to be easy, but it's an issue the Southern Arizona delegation cares about," Tracy said.

He said the group wants a public vote in early 2009, which will require special permission from the Legislature since such elections are supposed to be held in November, when most voters go to the polls.

Almost a dozen business leaders and sports advocates asked the supervisors to approve the creation of a sports authority, which also would fund youth sports events and the development of tournament facilities.

The authority's priorities are to keep the Rockies in Pima County, find a replacement team for the Chicago White Sox and lure a minor league team to replace the Sidewinders, who are moving to Reno in 2009.

Dan Schneider, a former professional baseball player who is a liaison between the business community and the baseball teams, said the teams need plenty of competition to promote player development if spring training is to stay in Tucson.

Keeping three teams is essential, and finding a fourth team would be even better, he said.

But Tucson resident Jim Hanley said the supervisors were "throwing good money after bad" and shifting accountability from elected officials to business leaders.

"When we create these authorities, you give away your responsibility to make decisions to a special-interest group," he said.