Commissioners struggle with added costs to Marlins Stadium

MIAMI (WSVN) -- The cost of the parking garage for the new Marlins Stadium has gone up an additional $40 million, but that did not stop city commissioners from helping foot the bill.

Miami City commissioners agree on few things, but most would voice their disgust over a proposal to issue $135 million in bonds to build parking facilities at the new Marlins Stadium. That's $41 million more than the $94 million first talked about during the vote for the proposal of the stadium. "If you knew that it was going to be a little bit higher than 94, why didn't you make it absolutely clear then?" said Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones.

The only one not to rally against the administration was a visibly ill Joe Sanchez who cautioned against breaking the city's end of the deal. "A contract is a contract. That's the deal we signed," said Sanchez. "That's the deal we agreed on."

But the devil is in the details. While the actual construction costs of the stadium hits the mark, the so-called soft costs for design surveys, construction management and consultants bring it up to an estimated $108 million. Add financing and you are talking millions more.

While the city's financial director would tell commissioners he just wanted wiggle room, they would not have it. "I'm all for building the garage," said Commissioner Tomas Regalado, "but I think it's unfair, what you're doing."

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who vehemently opposed the stadium deal would lead the charge to reign the number back to $120 million, which most commissioners agreed to during a vote. "We're talking millions like it's a couple of bucks," he said.

In the end, commissioners Regalado and Spence-Jones would still vote against it, calling it a bad deal.

Now, with that $120 million cap, the city will go to the bond market on Dec. 3. Of course, no one can predict what the market will be like on that day, and whether or not they can hit that 120 mark, which could mean a return to City Hall.

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