Hillsborough County commissioners voted Tuesday, Nov. 10, to advance $353 million in public financing for the proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, despite concerns about the county's finances following the passage of Amendment 3.

The votes carry implications for Apollo Beach and Ruskin residents. Both unincorporated communities fall under the county commission's authority, and the stadium financing includes revenue from countywide sales taxes and tourist development taxes.

Commissioners approved four measures, including a $90 million appropriation from the renewed Community Investment Tax (CIT) and authorization for up to $263 million in tourist development tax-backed bonds, WUSF reported.

The actions move forward the county's existing commitment of up to $796 million toward the proposed $2.36 billion stadium. They do not immediately release the money.

How commissioners voted

Commissioners voted 5-2 to add the ballpark to the list of infrastructure projects eligible for funding through the renewed CIT.

Commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda opposed the measure.

Wostal left the meeting after that vote. The three remaining financing measures passed 5-1, with Cameron Cepeda casting the lone dissenting vote, according to Florida Politics.

Commissioners Ken Hagan, Christine Miller, Chris Boles, Harry Cohen and Gwen Myers supported the financing measures.

Where the stadium money comes from

The $90 million appropriation establishes the ballpark's initial capital project budget for fiscal year 2027.

The money comes from reserves associated with the renewed Community Investment Tax, a half-cent sales tax Hillsborough voters originally approved in 1996 and renewed for another 15 years in 2024.

The renewed tax takes effect Dec. 1, 2026.

The $90 million represents the first portion of the county's planned $360 million CIT contribution. Additional appropriations would require future commission approval.

Commissioners also amended the county's Tourist Development Plan to include the ballpark and authorized up to $263 million in bonds backed by the third- and sixth-cent tourist development taxes.

The bonds must undergo judicial validation, and commissioners must approve their final terms before they can be issued.

The county's total commitment of up to $796 million includes approximately $360 million in CIT revenue, $303 million in tourist development taxes and reserves, $103 million from other county funding sources and $30 million in anticipated federal disaster-recovery reimbursements.

The city of Tampa has separately committed $80 million toward the project. The Rays are responsible for more than $1.3 billion and construction cost overruns.

Amendment 3 raises budget concerns

The stadium votes came one week after Florida voters approved Amendment 3, which increases the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

The changes are expected to reduce property tax revenue available to local governments, creating new budget pressures for Hillsborough County.

The Florida Policy Institute estimated the county could lose approximately $971.1 million in revenue over two fiscal years, according to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

The stadium's planned sales tax and tourist development tax revenue would not be directly reduced by the homestead exemption changes. However, the county has also committed $103 million from other funding sources, raising questions about how the project fits into its broader financial outlook.

During Tuesday's meeting, residents expressed opposing views on whether the county should continue advancing the deal.

Some urged commissioners to reconsider the financing commitments in light of anticipated property tax losses. Others argued that the stadium and surrounding development could help expand the county's commercial tax base.

Boles, who supported the stadium agreement in August, previously told Creative Loafing that Amendment 3 alone was not a reason to reopen the deal.

"That said, if the amendment changes the financial projection in a meaningful way, we should take another look," Boles said.

What's still ahead

Tuesday's votes do not authorize the immediate transfer of public money to the Rays.

County officials said the team must provide proof of financing and satisfy other conditions before county funds can be released.

Judicial validation of the proposed tourist development tax bonds must also be completed.

Commissioners are expected to consider additional financing documents in December, including final bond terms and agreements governing how construction funds will be managed.

A separate vote on the county's anticipated $39 million contribution to a community benefits agreement remains outstanding. Tampa City Council has already approved a $21 million contribution toward that agreement, according to Florida Politics.

The proposed stadium would be built on a 115-acre site currently occupied by Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus, with the Rays targeting the 2029 baseball season for its opening.