By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
With just days remaining in the 2017 legislative session, Senate leaders Tuesday introduced bills paving the way for the Pawtucket Red Sox’ proposed, $83 million ballpark in the center of Pawtucket, although the full General Assembly is not expected to take up the plan until 2018.
“I don’t know if it will be a fall session,” Senate President Dominick Ruggerio told WPRO News.
“There will be hearings in the Finance Committee on that and we’ll see where those hearings go and then we’ll make a decision as to how to proceed from there.”
Last month Ruggerio nixed consideration of legislation for the Pawsox ballpark, saying it was too late in the current session. But he is supportive of the legislation unveiled Tuesday.
“The governor’s supportive of it. I think obviously the proposal’s a lot better than the previous proposal that we had,” Ruggerio said.
“The team is kicking in a substantial amount of dollars, probably more than any other Triple -A team has ever kicked in for a stadium, so I think it looks promising. Once we have the hearings I think we’ll get a full understanding of what’s encompassed in the legislation.”
Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Conley said he plans a series of as-yet unscheduled hearings in the fall to vet the legislation, which provides a three-tier bonding scheme.
Conley said he proposes a series of hearings, including some in Pawtucket, to be held in the fall, but does not anticipate a vote in the full Senate before the 2018 session, which traditionally begins in January.
The Pawsox owners propose to contribute $45 million, including $12 million in “up front equity contributions and $33 million to be financed by a taxable lease revenue bond issued by the Pawtucket Redevelopment Authority”.
Pawtucket would issue $15 million in revenue bonds, while the state’s contribution amounts to $23 million. Conley said the city’s share would be paid from real estate property tax, hotel tax, a tangible asset tax, food and beverage tax revenues and assessments generated in and around the downtown ballpark, secured in part by state aid payments to Pawtucket.
“The Pawsox have made a commitment that they’d be responsible for cost overruns on the stadium itself, if there are environmental issues there that would be part of what needs to be addressed, sure,” said Conley, when asked if the proposed downtown site of the Apex property may require remediation.
