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If GOP comes, here's public tab

Taxpayers would pick up two-thirds of the bill if the Republican National Convention picks Tampa for '08, organizers say.

By JANET ZINK
Published June 6, 2006

TAMPA - Hosting the 2008 Republican National Convention here would cost taxpayers about $85-million, event organizers said Monday.

That's roughly two-thirds of the estimated total cost of $124-million, according to the bid package a Tampa delegation presented to the Republican National Committee in May. Nearly $22-million would come straight out of local tax coffers.

Businessman Al Austin, a major GOP fundraiser who heads Tampa's convention host committee, said a private campaign should generate $39-million.

The federal government would provide $38-million for security, according to Tampa's convention bid package, made public for the first time Monday.

Organizers also hope to get $15-million from the Florida Legislature and $9-million from the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council, which distributes money generated by a 5 percent tax charged to people who stay in hotels. Part of that $9-million would put a new roof on the Tampa Convention Center and upgrade the air conditioning system.

Tampa and other Florida governments would provide $19-million in in-kind services, such as police protection, and direct support, such as overtime and cleanup.

If state and local governments don't make that money available, Austin said Florida's Republican fundraising machine will make up the difference.

"I can assure the funds that are necessary will be there," Austin said. "If I didn't think we could raise it, I wouldn't go out on a limb and say we could."

Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau officials emphasized that the numbers are preliminary and that the budget will be refined if Tampa lands the event.

Tampa is competing with Minneapolis, Cleveland and New York for the convention. Finalists will be announced by July 1, and by January the GOP will decide which city will host the event, which is expected to draw 50,000 people and generate $180-million in spending in the area.

Paul Catoe, president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the indirect economic benefit would top $300-million and the 15,000 journalists expected to cover the convention would give the city international exposure that can't be bought.

It's an "unparalleled" business opportunity, Catoe said.

Catoe and Austin also downplayed concerns about protesters. Documents released last month by the city predicted as many as 500,000 protesters could show up in Tampa and pitch tents in city parks. That estimate was based on reports from the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.

But Austin thinks that's not likely to happen in Tampa because the city's transportation network isn't evolved enough to handle so many people. He predicts 20,000 protesters tops.

"The idea of tents in Tampa? That's impossible. It won't happen in Florida," he said.

And if it does, he said security could easily be handled from MacDill Air Force Base.

"They're the ones fighting the war on terror," he said.

From an economic standpoint, Catoe noted that even demonstrators spend money. "We look at it as dollar signs," he said.

The convention would happen at the height of hurricane season, but the bid package does not include an evacuation plan.

"We're not at that stage yet," said visitors bureau spokeswoman Karen Brand. If Tampa wins the bid, a detailed evacuation plan will be drawn, she said.

According to the convention bid package, the Tampa City Council and Hillsborough County Commission gave "unanimous" support. But neither body has voted to approve spending.

The details were released four days after the Tampa Tribune sued the convention and visitors bureau to open the convention bid to public scrutiny.

The Republican National Committee invited more than 30 cities to bid on the Republican Party extravaganza, but only four are competing.

According to news reports, Charlotte, N.C., and Orlando declined because of concerns about costs.

San Diego also took a pass because of finances, said Fred Sainz, a spokesman for San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.

Sainz used to work for the RNC, and directed the planning of the party's convention in San Diego in 1996.

"It is a pretty significant financial investment for a city," Sainz said. "The city has other priorities at the moment - repaving our streets, getting our water and wastewater system to an acceptable level for residents. There are a lot of local priorities that are much more important to our citizens than hosting a hoity-toity event."

In 1996, the GOP convention cost $40-million, Sainz said. The host committee raised $14-million to cover expenses, he said, but according to the contract with the RNC, the city had to pick up the $26-million balance.

"That's money the city doesn't have this time around," he said.

WHERE MONEY WOULD COME FROM:

Tampa is one of four cities competing to host the 2008 Republican National Convention. The host committee estimates it would cost $124-million.

$39-million: Private fundraising.

$85-million: Federal, state and local taxes, including: 

• $49-million from the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council.
• 15-million from the Florida Legislature.
• $42-million from the federal government.
•  $19-million: Public direct and in-kind services from the state, city of Tampa and other local governments.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

[Last modified June 6, 2006, 07:15:29]