Saturday, February 19, 2000
County may form stadium authority
Oversight was needed 2 years ago, critics say
BY LUCY MAY and DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There may soon be a stadium authority in place to oversee the completion of Paul Brown Stadium and the entire construction of the Reds ballpark, as well as manage both stadiums.
Critics say it's about two years too late.
Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said Friday he intends to propose the creation of a stadium authority in the coming days.
Mr. Bedinghaus said he had intended all along to form such a group after the completion of the stadiums to promote, maintain and operate the facilities.
“It's apparent to me that it would be helpful, as well, during construction of the Reds stadium,” he said.
Mr. Bedinghaus said his fellow commissioners haven't supported the idea in the past, largely out of concern that it would add another layer of bureaucracy.
“I think that, long term, these stadiums are better left in the hands of people who pay attention to the stadiums full time,” he said.
That's what Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes has been saying all along.
Mr. Rhodes supported the half-penny sales-tax increase in 1996 and said he was assured that a stadium authority would handle negotiations of the lease and construction contracts.
That went by the boards immediately after the election, he said.
“It's too late,” Mr. Rhodes said of creating the stadium authority. “They won't be able to negotiate the lease, or buy the property, or issue the debt. It's all been done.
“If the stadium authority had been created in the onset, we wouldn't be in the position we're in now.”
That position, the public learned for the first time Monday, is staring at between $35 million and $45 million in cost overruns to a project previously estimated to cost $287 million. Commissioners pumped $14.3 million into the stadium Wednesday to pay the bills.
A construction auditor hired by Hamilton County has said taxpayers may be able to get some of that money back, through negotiation or lawsuits, but that likely wouldn't happen until after the stadium is built.
Mr. Bedinghaus said creating the stadium authority would require a change in state law.
Bengals officials said they need more information about the stadium authority idea before commenting on it.
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