Deal with Magic over gyms costing taxpayers

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The sluggish economy has put some hurdles in front of projects like the Citrus bowl and the Orlando Performing Arts Center, but the Amway Arena is still a go.

What you may not realize though, is that a deal the Orlando Magic struck with the county is costing you more than you thought.

In fact, at least one county commissioner admits she wasn't aware of the price tag until after she voted to allow tourist development taxes to be used to fund the new arena.

Not all county commissioners were on board with using tourist development taxes, so Linda Stewart says two of the commissioners asked the Magic for a concession: build five community gyms like the one nearly finished off Econlockhatchee Trail in Southeast Orange County, and you'll get our vote.

FOX 35 has discovered that the team is building but not for free.

Five gyms for the community, along with environmentally friendly concessions, is partly why Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart voted to fund the new arena with tourist development dollars.

"I found out later down the road, we'd have to put infrastructure money in to the tune of millions of dollars out of park impact fees," says Stewart.

Why didn't the team agree to fund the gyms completely? We left a message for Magic spokesman Joel Glass, but have not yet heard back from him at the time this article was written.

After all, commissioners thought the gyms would be something the Magic could do for the community in exchange for taxpayers foregoing the use of 'bed taxes' for other services.

Stewart says she feels a little duped, because the county will actually have to pay $3.6 million for infrastructure -- $3.6 in money from you, the taxpayer.

"It's not a bad idea, but it was an idea that in my opinion was simply not explored as much as it should have been," says Stewart.

Park impact fee money can only be used within the County Parks and Recreation department, but with all the budget cuts, $3. 6 million would go a long way toward jobs and parks, some of which has been cut due to budget cuts.

Two of the community gyms are slated to open this April. Stewart says residents will still have to pay a fee.