State Contribution to Mesa Spring Training Project in Doubt

Legislation in support of the proposed Chicago Cubs spring training facility in Mesa recently passed in the Arizona House of Representatives. However, it failed to contain any specific plan to raise revenue which could be used for debt service on bonds sold to finance the project. The previously included one dollar per car rental surcharge was dropped. Things now move on to the Senate where backers hope to assemble some consensus on a revenue source. Until then, it is impossible to estimate the amount which might flow to the city to offset initial construction of the facilities. The objections encountered thus far may well indicate that the City of Mesa may have to shoulder more of the financial burden than originally thought.