Graphic for Headline Surfer® / DAYTONA BEACH -- Officials with Daytona International Speedway are keeping their fingers crossed that a bill unanimously passed today by the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee providing $60 million in tax incentives for the Speedway will continue making its way through the Legislature and eventual passage in the Spring.
The bill would provide tens of millions more for other sports stadiums throughout the Sunshine State, including the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as well as a new soccer facility in Orlando.
"We're certainly thrilled the bill passed in the Senate committee," Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago told Headline Surfer® in a telephone interview this afternoon.
"We know the bill has a way to go and we're looking forward to working with our supporters in Tallahassee as well as supporters locally -- we're hopeful for a positive outcome in May."
Daytona International Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago on legislation that would provide $60 million in tax incentives for Speedway with its $400 million modernization project Daytona Rising:
"We're certainly thrilled the bill passed in the Senate committee," Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago told Headline Surfer® in a telephone interview this afternoon. "We know the bill has a way to go and we're looking forward to working with our supporters in Tallahassee as well as supporters locally -- we're hopeful for a positive outcome in May."
May, of course, is when Tallahassee lawmakers typically wrap up the legislative session for the year.
Under Senate Bill 208, the $400 million “Daytona Rising” project that broke ground last sumer and is slated for completion in 2016, would receive upwards of $2 million annually for 30 years, assuming it meets its stated economic-development goals and can generate the kind of sales tax revenues projected over the life of the proposed legislation.
“This is a real economic driver, not only for the county I represent, but for the entire state,” State Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, was quoted as saying in an online blog posted earlier today by the Orlando Sentinel, the only Central Florida media outlet in chambers when the vote was taken.
Hukill also was quoted saying the same thing in a story posted online in the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Attempts by Headline Surfer® to reach Hukill through her staff were unsuccessful following the bill's passage.
Hukill, the former term-limited state representative and ex-Port Orange mayor midway through her first term after defeating then-Volusia County Chair and Democrat Frank Bruno in the 2012 elections for the dis. 8 Senate seat representing parts of Volusia, Lake and Marion counties, has been less than receptive in recent months to media requests from Headline Surfer®.
Especially media reports not favorable to her or her Republican colleague County Councilwoman Deborah Denys, of New Smyrna Beach in their mutual support of a private space launch pad on sensitive lands near Oak Hill, opposed alike by environmentalists and residents of the small city.
The Speedway is among myriad sports venues like the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars seeking tax breaks in the millions for stadium improvements as is the city of Orlando for a new Major League Soccer stadium. All are all entwined in the pending legislation.
Although a similar economic development bill passed the Senate last year for the Speedway and the other sports stadiums, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, refused to let it go to a vote on the floor.
And as a result, the legislation died, despite heavy lobbying by Volusia County-based politicians and even a personal visit by NASCAR Sprint Car driver Jimmie Johnson, fresh off his 2013 victory in the Daytona 500.
Editor's Note: Headline Surfer® is on the record as strongly favoring passage of the legislation that would benefit Daytona International Speedway as well as all of the proposed sports venues throughout the Sunshine State primarily for the economic benefits, from job creation and expansion to increased opportunities for tourism.
FAST FACTS: Daytona Rising
Photo for Headline Surfer® / Initial economic benefits for the Daytona Rising project were initially based on a $250 million investment. Now that the actual investment from ISC is between $375- $400 million, the project is now expected to generate:
The calculated economic benefits from Daytona Rising are in addition to the already substantial impacts generated by the ongoing operations of ISC and Daytona International Speedway:
Sidebar Analysis:
Politician' Dorothy Hukill playing media favoritism with $60 million Speedway bill