{"id":569260,"date":"2026-02-13T02:16:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/569260\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T02:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:16:19","slug":"house-silent-on-50m-request-tied-to-rays-linked-hillsborough-college-redevelopment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/569260\/","title":{"rendered":"House silent on $50M request tied to Rays-linked Hillsborough College redevelopment"},"content":{"rendered":"

One high-profile Tampa Bay project appears to be missing from the House budget proposal: a $50 million appropriations request sponsored by Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess<\/a> to support improvements at Hillsborough College\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0Dale Mabry campus \u2014 the same site under discussion for a potential new Tampa Bay Rays<\/a> ballpark.<\/p>\n

The House\u2019s proposed budget does not show any line item allocating $50 million to Hillsborough College<\/a> for the Dale Mabry campus project. The request, filed by Burgess on behalf of the college, is intended for significant campus improvements and deferred maintenance.<\/p>\n

While the appropriations request itself does not explicitly reference a stadium, the timeline and location align with ongoing negotiations between the Rays and Hillsborough College over a possible ballpark.<\/p>\n

The absence of funding in the House proposal, published Thursday, does not necessarily mean the request is dead. The Senate has yet to release its full spending plan, and differences between the chambers are typically ironed out during budget conference negotiations in the final weeks of Session.<\/p>\n

Still, the omission signals that, at least for now, the House is not including state funding for the broader redevelopment proposal \u2014 even though state funds would be used for college renovations and not the Rays facility.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> publicly endorsed the stadium concept<\/a> earlier this month during a news conference at the Dale Mabry campus. DeSantis voiced support for using the college site as the future home of the Rays and outlined potential state actions, including conveying state-owned land to the college and assisting with infrastructure needs.<\/p>\n

However, he stopped short of committing direct state dollars to stadium construction. Instead, DeSantis said reinvestment in the college campus itself \u2014 particularly addressing aging facilities and deferred maintenance \u2014 as a more appropriate avenue for state participation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any state contribution \u2014 whether for campus redevelopment, infrastructure or related improvements \u2014 would ultimately require inclusion in the final budget and the Governor\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n

Hillsborough County elected officials have already started exploring local financing options<\/a> \u2014 including the possibility that voter-approved Community Investment Tax<\/a> dollars could play a role. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has also voiced support for the Rays ballpark<\/a> and public funding for the effort.<\/p>\n

For now, though, the House spending plan contains no dedicated funds for the Rays-linked redevelopment effort, leaving the fate of Burgess\u2019 $50 million request squarely in the hands of Senate budget writers and end-of-Session negotiations.<\/p>\n

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