Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Background
In [[1977]] the State of Florida gave local governments the option of levying a sales tax on temporary lodging. On [[November 8]] of that year, [[Escambia County]] voters approved a two percent tax on tourist accommodations, estimated to yield between $225,000-$300,000 per year, to fund the construction of a convention center and arena in the county. At one point proponents advocated construction of two separate facilities: one on [[UWF]]-owned land on [[Santa Rosa Island]], the other on the city-owned, 14-acre [[Baylen Street Slip]].<ref>"Two Convention Centers?" ''Pensacola News'', July 31, 1977.</ref>
The biggest impetus for a new arena came in [[1982]] when [[W. D. Childers]], then president of the Florida Senate, was able to appropriate $12.5 million in state money for a civic center (along with $1.25 million for what would later become the [[T. T. Wentworth Museum]]).<ref>"Sen. Childers Defends Appeasement Strategy." ''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'', April 18, 1982.</ref> Childers had fielded requests from city leaders the previous year for a $10 million loan for the arena, but said of such a loan, "That's what you call pork barreling, parochialism, turkey."<ref>"Childers says tax hike unlikely despite federal cuts." ''Lakeland Ledger'', March 25, 1981.</ref> The eventual funding — a "no strings attached" grant instead of a loan — survived veto threats by Governor [[Wikipedia: Bob Graham| Bob Graham]], who in [[1980]] had vetoed an $8 million appropriation by Childers to build a football stadium at the [[University of West Florida]], which lacked a football team.<ref>"Graham's veto message: budget by need, not whim." ''Lakeland Ledger'', July 13, 1980.</ref>
===Construction===
