FRANKFORT, Ky. - Although the Reds approached Kentucky leaders in the spring to discuss a Newport baseball park, a key lawmaker said Monday the idea hasn't been broached recently.
House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, who represents Newport, said he was unaware of any current or recent discussions between the Reds and the state.
"If it's going on, I don't know anything about it," said Mr. Callahan. As a member of House leadership and an ally of Gov. Paul Patton, he likely would know whether such meetings were taking place.
The Enquirer reported May 31 that the Reds, along with key Northern Kentucky business and political leaders, apparently had met with Mr. Patton last spring to discuss building a Newport stadium.
But, sources told the Enquirer on Monday that the talks never proceeded beyond the discussion stage and ended after Mr. Patton said Kentucky would not be used as a bargaining chip in stadium negotiations.
Melissa Forsythe, Mr. Patton's communications director, referred questions about the Reds to the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet.
Cabinet spokesman Joe Lilly said it is the cabinet's policy not to comment on any questions dealing with specific projects.
Though Kentucky has been aggressive in luring corporations to the state with financial incentives including tax breaks and road construction, it does not appear the state has any incentive packages designed to attract a major league sports franchise.
"We have two incentive packages for manufacturers and one for service and technical jobs. But I don't see where we have anything that would fit a baseball team that wanted to move here," Mr. Lilly said.
The Tourism Development Cabinet offers qualified ventures the chance to recoup up to 25 percent of the developer's cost through a sales tax rebate. In the case of the Newport $40 million aquarium, the incentive is expected to mean between $7 million and $8 million.
It's also doubtful a sales tax increase, which is how Hamilton County is in part paying for stadium construction, would ever be a possibility in Kentucky.
Under state law, it can be increased only statewide and only by a vote of the state legislature.
Senate Minority Caucus Chairman Dick Roeding, R-Fort Mitchell, said lawmakers would never pass a statewide sales tax increase to build a Northern Kentucky project.
Gregory A. Hall contributed to this report.
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