Talking About A Drillers Move

Tulsans are drilling into the financing for a downtown Drillers stadium.  A new downtown property tax would pay for part of it.  But, The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports some downtown business owners wonder if it would pay off.

If a stadium is built on some land between Elgin and Greenwood, it's estimated 400,000 people a year would have a new reason to come downtown.  Some landowners don't believe a stadium will do them much good, but others say it's just what downtown needs.

Business owner Dwayne Morrow believes the new stadium is worth his paying more in taxes because he believes it will bring in customers.

"As long as I can get some business out of it, I think it's a positive thing for the area.  But, if we're not going to get the business, that's a different story.  I'm paying for something I'm not benefitting from," said Dwayne Morrow of D&F Mini Mart.

That's the main question that every downtown landowner and tenant want answered.

"It is difficult to determine the fairness, should one person pay more than another," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

The city council spent several hours questioning the mayor and her team about the tax.

"And, I've got at least a page and a half of questions I need answered," said Tulsa City Councilor Bill Martinson.

The proposed downtown stadium tax is six and half cents a year for every square foot of land and building space.  It would collect about $3.3 million a year for 30 years.

The stadium budget calls for a construction costs of $65 million to be funded with $25 million from the downtown tax, $30 million from donations, and another $10 million from sponsorships.

The mayor says the owners of more than half of the property in downtown already support the tax.  But, one of Greenwood's key leaders says a lot of people are undecided.

"A stolen base or a home run? And, that ambivalence is based on historical fact," said Tulsan James Goodwin.

Dwayne Morrow says he's confident the new tax will pay off for him.

"Anything that would bring more people down here would be a positive move," said Dwayne Morrow.

The Tulsa City Council will discuss the issue more on Thursday night and the public will have a chance to comment.

Several councilors said they didn't think they would have their questions answered by Thursday, so it's very unlikely to be decided this week.