By John Durkee
Tulsa, OK – It was a split vote, but the Tulsa City Council has approved an assessment fee to finance the new baseball park in downtown Tulsa. The vote was 5-to-4. The 6 1/2 cent per square foot fee is for all property inside the IDL with the exception of churches, the federal government and homes with homestead exemption. It is expected the fee will raise $25 million to help finance the ballpark.
The park is expected to cost $60-million; $25-million from the assessment fee, $5-million from the Tulsa Drillers and $30-million from private donors.
The ballpark is to be finished by next season. The city can start collecting the fee in 30-days.