House passes bill to authorize county stadium district financing for Diamondbacks renovation

The Arizona House of Representatives on June 23 passed House Bill 2704, final reading, by a vote of 35 ayes, 20 nays and 5 not voting. The bill, described on the floor as relating to county stadium districts, was advanced to the governor after floor concurrence in Senate amendments.

Representative Marquez, explaining his vote, said the bill will create jobs and union work tied to the stadium renovations and noted that concessions made by the Diamondbacks addressed some constituent concerns. "I do think in the long term, despite some reservations around economic impact ... this will lead to good paying jobs for Arizonans and it will also lead to good, paying union jobs as well as for those folks that are working on the renovations at the stadium," he said.

Representative Sandoval, who described her vote as difficult, said the measure will provide $20 million a year in tax dollars to the Arizona Diamondbacks over a 30-year period and said unions had negotiated contracts tied to the work. "This is a really hard bill for me, because it's giving the D backs $20,000,000 a year in tax dollars, both state and county, over a 30 year period," she said, and added that union contracts influenced her decision to support the bill.

Representative Connolly also voiced support, saying downtown Phoenix's vitality depends on investments and long-term commitments. Representative Aguilar congratulated the Diamondbacks and emphasized that public funds "should be used for public good," saying the bill should deliver good-paying jobs, pensions, health care and apprenticeship programs.

The clerk recorded the vote as 35 ayes, 20 nays and 5 not voting and instructed that the bill be conveyed to the governor.