Hillsborough commissioners advance agenda items on Rays stadium financing

Rendering of the proposed stadium from the team’s website (Tampa Bay Rays / Courtesy)Hillsborough County commissioners took several steps Tuesday 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 the county's $360 million commitment from the renewed CIT, which takes effect Dec. 1.Commissioners also voted to add the stadium to the list of infrastructure projects eligible for that tax revenue.Use of the county’s tourist tax financing 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 r