This article is from the Portland TV station KATU's website-02/04/03

Schools and Baseball Both Doable Says Mayor

PORTLAND - While the Portland School District is talking cuts, Portland Mayor Vera Katz is talking baseball.

This morning, Mayor Katz gave a full report on her trip to New York and the city's chances of landing major league baseball. Katz maintains dollars spent to bring major leaguers to town won't take away from the Portland School budget.

Katz and other supporters say that it isn't a choice between baseball and schools. Katz says the two are independent issues.

Major League baseball is looking to relocate the financially challenged Montreal Expos by the end of this upcoming summer. Portland and Washington DC are the top contending candidates to win the franchise.

Going over results from last week's meeting in New York City with league officials, Katz said the league doesn't mind the idea of funding a stadium using bonds financed by the income tax revenue generated by players and administrators salaries. Additional income tax revenue would come also be generated from players of opposing teams when games are played in Portland.

Portland Baseball Group (PBG) estimates that the proposed bond would provide $150-$175 million worth of funding and would be financed over a 30-year period.

The state treasurer estimates the ability to support bond debt service is 25-percent higher than necessary for the bill, and says the built-in cushion provides an extra level of protection for the state.

PBG also states that the baseball bonding option will have lower interest payments than lottery bonding.

Katz stands firm on her position that funding for baseball are both doable despite a rough economy.

"In my career, I've handled several very major projects, all at the same time, and we're not ignoring schools," Katz said. "That's being handled right now, it is a top priority, but I have a lot of wonderful partners out in the private sector to help the city make this a reality as well."

An exclusive KATU News - Survey USA poll taken in December found most people in the Portland area want major league baseball here. Of 500 people surveyed, 59-percent said yes to bringing baseball to the Rose City, 27-percent said no, and 14-percent said they weren't sure.

Baseball supporters also added a new possible site for a stadium in southeast Portland's Lent District near Interstate 205 and the Johnson Creek area. Two other leading stadium sites are one near the Rose Garden, and another in the Pearl District.

The plan also includes a preliminary list of local financing options the city will evaluate to help stadium finances. This list includes hotel and car rental taxes, parking revenue bonds, and business license fees.