TALLAHASSEE - They won the World Series, but the Florida Marlins are striking out with Florida voters in their effort to use tax money for a new stadium.
Eighty percent of voters oppose using tax dollars to build a new home for the Marlins. Fourteen percent support the idea and 6 percent are undecided.
"It's funny, we have taxpayers' dollars for everything but what we need to do, and that is to improve our schools for our children," said Miriam Reid, a 77-year-old retiree in Delray Beach, one of 800 people contacted by phone this week for the St. Petersburg Times and the Miami Herald. "It's a private company that's owning the baseball stadium. They should put up their own money."
The money-losing Marlins have won two World Series titles in seven years but are frustrated at Pro Player Stadium, home of the NFL's Dolphins. The Marlins want a baseball stadium to tap revenue from concessions, parking and luxury suites.
Miami-Dade County has agreed to spend $73-million in tourist taxes toward the new park if the Marlins provide $137-million.
Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas said the team might apply for a $60-million rebate of future sales taxes from the Legislature, as every other major sports team in Florida has gotten.
The poll did not specify the type of tax dollars, but the results are sure to make the stadium selling job a lot tougher, especially in an election year.
