The proposed referendum on the public funding of improvements to the Miami Dolphins home at Sun Life Stadium is dead before it even got on the ballot.
The legislature closed their spring session yesterday without finalizing the bill that was required in order to make this Referendum take place. The Dolphins had requested that a vote be held on May 14th, for taxpayers and voters to make their voices heard on the planned renovations.
The Dolphins had spent over $4.7 million on the process, giving the referendum. Early voting and absentee ballots had already begun to be collected, but with this news the referendum, and the Stadium plans are effectively dead.
Dolphins management was understandably upset with the decision, and released the following statement through Jorge Arrizurieta and H.T. Smith, co-chairs of the campaign to secure public funds for the project.
“By leaving Tallahassee without letting the people of Miami-Dade vote on the modernization of Sun Life Stadium, the Florida House clearly showed our community that they would rather play politics than do the right thing,” the statement reads, via the Miami Herald. “While the Tallahassee politicians found time to raise the contribution limits for their fundraising, they said they couldn’t find time to let the people of Miami-Dade make their voices heard. While they pushed their political agenda, the House leaders refused to support the effort that would create over 4,000 jobs and provide a much-needed boost to our local economy.
“The House put at risk the future of Super Bowls and other major events in Miami, which are so critical to our tourism economy. It’s a sad day when Tallahassee gives San Francisco and Houston a victory at the expense of our community.
“This inaction by the Florida House of Representatives is frankly irresponsible and regretful. The most basic responsibility and right a citizen has is the ability to vote. All we asked for was the opportunity to vote to not be denied. Unfortunately, the House chose to deny Miami-Dade residents the right to have the final say on this effort.”
The Dolphins were looking for a total of $350 million in Stadium Improvements, with some of the money coming from the state level, some from Dade County, and the remainder being thrown in from the Dolphins themselves. The State money was going to be funded through an increase in the tourism tax, and through refunds from State Tax over 30 years.
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