Orlando

Taxpayers to Fund New Arena?


Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services 

Is there any moral justification to using taxpayer money to build a new sports arena for the Orlando Magic? Since taxes are paid under ultimate penalty of death, isn't this the equivalent of holding a gun to their heads while at the same time trying to convince them it's for their own good? If it was for their own good, they would do it voluntarily. So why is the State of Florida looking to use its monopoly on violence to build a new arena?

Supporters of government involvement in sports teams would say these are not new taxes being levied on the citizens of Florida but rather tax breaks given to the builders of the stadium. There is a fifteen year old law on the books that allows in certain circumstances builders of sports arenas to receive a rebate of up to $2 million a year in sales tax revenue over 30 years. There is some motion now to nearly double that amount. In the end, the argument is still the same: it's not paid for by taxpayers; the government is simply giving a tax break on revenue it would not have otherwise seen.

That's absurd on the face of it for two reasons. One, a good portion of the money that would be spent on arena tickets, etc., would have been spent on something else otherwise, something that does generate tax revenue. And two, there is no real difference between a system that taxes you and only you, or one that taxes everybody equally and then gives tax breaks to everyone but you. At the end of the day, you're the only paying.

So is there any moral justification to such a plan for the Magic? Yes, there is one and only one: it is that all taxes are abhorrent. To support this plan, you must believe that all taxes are wrong. Much like slavery: if you believe all slavery is wrong, you will support any movement, however slight, in mitigating its effects. A temporary restraint on slavery for those who build sports arenas? Great! It's a step in the right direction. There is otherwise no moral justification for this plan. Only those who are looking to lower all taxes can with sincerity support such a plan.

Otherwise it's just legalized theft.

NEXT GAME
The Orlando Magic (25-22, third in the Southeast) host the Golden State Warriors (13-35, fifth in the Pacific) TONIGHT. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on NBA League Pass.

TEAM NOTES
HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF THE MAGIC PLAYERS? Submit it!Q: Steve, how much do you bench press? A: "210 lbs." Archive

INJURY UPDATE
Mario Kasun(knee) andBrandon Hunter(elbow) are on the injured list.

NEWSLINES

Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: In a season of inconsistency - ranging from stirring victories to costly turnover flurries - the Orlando Magic have proved one thing they can take through the final 10 weeks. Close games don't scare them. Close games they will win. The Magic (25-22) begin a six-game stretch tonight against teams all below .500, confident they will prevail if the outcome is decided in the final minute of play.

Jason Garcia ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: A Central Florida lawmaker wants to change Florida law to nearly double the amount of state cash the Orlando Magic could spend on a new or renovated arena.Rep. David Simmons, R-Longwood, said Monday that he is filing a bill that would allow the Magic up to $3.6 million a year in sales-tax revenue over 30 years. That should be enough, Simmons said, to generate enough cash to fund a makeover of TD Waterhouse Centre. 

The Mercury Newswrites: Orlando is in a bit of a slump, having lost five of its past eight games.Some of that could be attributed to the adjustment the Magic has had to make after trading G Cuttino Mobley to Sacramento for G Doug Christie. Christie is a better defender than Mobley but less of an offensive threat. Orlando won the first meeting between the teams, 113-109 on Dec. 10 in Oakland.