dberce1

Already the situation is sounding grim:

New Orleans-area financing for Saints deal questioned1/27/2005, 12:29 p.m. CT
By ALAN SAYRE
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Questioning a politically sensitive stand in Gov. Kathleen Blanco's negotiations to keep the New Orleans Saints from moving, a private government watchdog group says the New Orleans area should not be forced to bear the entire burden of new taxes to fund the deal.

Blanco has said that extra money to fund a $168 million renovation of the Louisiana Superdome must come from the New Orleans area — a contention backed by a top legislative leader who said a deal likely would be killed in the Legislature if it needs another influx from the state treasury.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisi...list=louisiana

ScottyRo

I had wondered when reading about the new orleans area tax before whether a state-wide hotel tax wouldn\'t be a good plan.

I know the rest of the state may not generate even 25% of the tax that N.O. may generate, but it\'d still be another 2 or 3 million a year to the state. I say just add $1 statewide to all hotel rooms. I don\'t see what the harm would be in such a measure and it\'d mean all of La is helping keep the saints at home.

dberce1

Also found the following:

Spare N.O. area brunt on Saints deal, study says
State already receives two-thirds of tax revenue team generates Thursday, January 27, 2005
By Martha Carr
Staff writer
Considering that the state receives two-thirds of the tax revenue generated by the Saints, New Orleans should not be expected to bear the brunt of a new financial package that would keep the National Football League team in the city through 2025, according to a report issued Wednesday by the Bureau of Governmental Research.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco has said the tax revenue to pay for a proposed $168 million renovation of the Superdome, which would allow the Saints to earn more revenue, must come from Orleans and Jefferson parishes, not the state treasury.

The 31-page BGR report, which does not take a position on the state\'s plan, says Blanco should consider shifting more of the tax burden to the state, which the report says collected about $17.4 million in various taxes in 2004 as a result of the NFL team. In contrast, all metro area parishes combined collected only $10.1 million, the BGR says.

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpa...9411144150.xml