MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Officials in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa have a new financing plan for building a new spring training complex for the Chicago Cubs.
The plan announced Thursday is aimed at keeping the team from moving its spring operations to Florida, which would be a major tourism loss for Mesa.
Officials say cornerstones of the $84 million plan include a proposed increase in the city’s bed tax on hotel rooms and using city money from special funds.
Sales and property taxes would not figure in the plan, but revenue from selling some city-owned rural property in Pinal (puh-NAL’) County would be available to replenish the special funds.
The city is acting on its own because the Arizona Legislature rejected legislation that proposed a different financing plan for a new Cubs facility.
