Cobb Officials Promise to Release Details About Stadium Deal

“Hopefully you can appreciate that we don’t want to put a document out there and then have to come back two days later and say, ‘by the way we have to change five dollars from this column and put ten dollars in this,’ so we want to make sure when we come out we have the right, accurate numbers so it reflects positively on the deal.”

But Cobb Resident Jan Barton expressed concern about the project. 

“Nothing was said to the taxpayers of Cobb County until today and yesterday about this boondoggle.”

Barton also raised worries about what the stadium will mean for county taxpayers.  

“What are the calculated costs and terms of added traffic delays, added bus transit costs and impact to local businesses due to added the traffic congestion?”

Lee says the county will work with the state to resolve traffic-related issues.

Meanwhile, at this point, all four county commissioners support the plan.

But commissioners also remained silent on funding details.

However, when asked what it will mean for taxpayers, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said,

“I don’t think the general public and taxpayers have anything to worry about as far comes to coming out of their pockets.”

On Monday, Cobb Chief Financial Officer Jim Pehrson told WABE,  funding specifics are still being worked out.

But he said the funding would not come from the county’s hotel-motel tax or a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. However, Pehrson may have given a clue when speaking about Community Improvement District funding.

“I know the Braves going to be a major player in this and the county as well. It will be located in the Cumberland CID area, which has its own taxing mechanism, but other than that a number of these things need to be worked out.”

The Cobb Commission is expected to vote on a Memorandum of Understanding for a new stadium later this month.

On Monday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said it was his understanding that Cobb County’s contribution to the deal would be $450 million. Cobb officials did not confirm that number.

Jonathan Shapiro contributed to this report.

UPDATE:

Statement from the Braves:

“The Braves will pay a significant amount of the expense of the new stadium, both in upfront costs and throughout the term of the lease. The exact number is being finalized with officials from Cobb County. At no time in our discussions with Cobb County, or any  other municipality, have the Braves referenced a $450 million public investment. Reports of this figure are erroneous. When the final deal points are reached, they will be shared with the public and the media.”