ST. PETERSBURG, Florida: After two months, the Pinellas County Commission voted this week to share financing for a new US$1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, part of a plan to keep the team in St. Petersburg for another 30 years.
The “Here To Stay” plan, approved earlier this summer by the county commission and St. Petersburg officials, has faced delays over funding votes.
This month, the St. Petersburg City Council agreed to fund its share of the bonds for a new 30,000-seat ballpark. On Tuesday, the county commission voted 5-2 to approve $312.5 million in bonds, paid for by tourist taxes that can’t be used for hurricane recovery…