Oregon lawmakers are considering a tax on athletes to pay for an $800 million bond with the aim of attracting a Major League Baseball team to Portland.
The Oregon Senate's committee on finance and revenue held a hearing Monday to discuss an amendment to
The bill would set up a funding mechanism capturing the income tax from players on the home team and visiting team, as well as team employees, to pay for the bonds.
It would fund a $1.8 billion stadium in Zidell Yards, on Portland's south waterfront.
"This costs us nothing up front," Meek said. "We only collect money from their payroll, and the visiting team's payroll. The revenue wouldn't be there if we didn't take this action."
Some officials in Oregon and its largest city want it to be one of the options for
Other contenders include
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed
"This would provide Oregon a much-needed economic shot in the arm," Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton/Southwest Portland, testified at the hearing. "We are in fierce competition for an expansion team. We should put our best foot forward. This proposal would not cost taxpayers."
She asked that the measure pass out of committee and the Senate and House floors unanimously to show the MLB the state's enthusiastic support for attracting a team.
Salt Lake City and Portland are the only western cities vying for an expansion team, said Craig Cheek, founder and president of the Portland Diamond Project, the organization working to attract a team.
"MLB hasn't expanded in 30 years," Meek said.
"None of the professional sports leagues have moved beyond 32 teams. This might be our last opportunity in decades to bring a professional franchise here," Meek said.
"It's really critical if we want to make a run at this that we get our act together," Cheek said. "Without a public-private partnership, the MLB will not consider our plan. They want to go where they are supported and where there is skin in the game."
The bill would amend a law approved in 2003 that would have allowed the issuance of $150 million in bonds if Portland landed a team, rather than $800 million.
The proposal was criticized by anti-tax advocates, who noted that a number of studies have been done over the past 30 years that show the economic benefits of having a stadium are not always borne out for the city.
Marcia Kelley of the Oregon Women's Rights Coalition also noted that in addition to the $800 million, the bill includes money for financing costs.
"With interest, this could cost much more than the $800 million mentioned in the bill," she said.
The committee may hold another public hearing on the bill before it votes, said Meek, adding he wants to aim for maximum transparency.
