State should extend tax for arena upgrade

NBA fans in Seattle hope they can catch a break. Get a couple calls to go their way. A full-court heave at the buzzer that catches nothing but net.

A group of these folks, led by the Save Our Sonics organization, will be in attendance at the Rose Garden tonight when the Oklahoma City Thunder visits the Portland Trailblazers. According to a story in the Times, the group wants to call attention to Senate Bill 6116 with the hope that it can come to a vote by April 26 when the legislative session ends.

The bill would extend hotel, restaurant and rental car taxes and redirect a portion of those funds to be used for upkeep on Qwest and Safeco Fields as well as the $75 million needed to renovate KeyArena. Extending the tax would also fund tourism, youth sports, regional centers, low-income housing and a remodel of Husky Stadium before it folds up like a cheap lawn chair and kills 70,000 football fans one fall afternoon.

Many lawmakers are asking why we would divert tax dollars to fund sports facilities, considering the state has a $9 billion deficit. The answer to that is the state already does this, the bill would merely extend the use of the tax. “No new taxes” as opponents like to say. I feel like we’ve talked about this before because we have. Unfortunately, it just hasn’t sunk in.

Just discussing public funding of sports facilities can be political suicide these days. The country has been saddled with the worst recession since the depression and folks in the region are losing their jobs at an alarming pace. As impossible as it may seem, and contrary to what newspapers and online news sites are telling you, we will work our way out of this recession. It’s going to end. We’re already seeing signs of recovery.

What the state needs to do is take a chapter out of Business Admin. 101. The companies that make the right moves during a down turn will be best positioned to capitalize when the recession ends. It’s good business to invest in tourism and public facilities like sports arenas. These industries create jobs, attract out of town dollars in the form of events and conventions. Simply hosting a regional final for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament would inject millions into the economy. And we’re going to have to pony up the money at some point to fix the football and baseball stadiums.

There’s no doubt about it, these are scary times and it is not the ideal time to discuss something like this. I’ve been affected as much as anyone else (I’ve got 18 days until I file for unemployment). However, decisions like this never come at a good time.