What happens next after the county vote on the Rays deal

Although the board approved the agreements in substantial form, staff emphasized several implementation steps and public processes that must occur before county dollars are disbursed.

County attorneys and staff said the project will require bond validation and that the team must provide robust financial evidence for HoldCo, StadCo and TeamCo before the county makes any payments. In addition, staff explained the CIT projects list must be amended through a noticed public hearing process (typically a 5–7 day newspaper notice period) before any diversion of the CIT toward the project can occur. The motion also directed the county attorney to conform documents and required that the community benefits agreement include front‑loaded payments and a binding payment and performance schedule to be returned to the board for approval.

Staff listed follow‑up tasks including scheduling CBA public hearings, beginning bond‑validation preparations and finalizing interlocal agreements and the construction trust structure. Commissioners asked that public hearings be held at times accessible to working residents and pressed for clear timelines and reporting so the public could track the legally required milestones before funds would be released.