Cobb County residents already paying the price for Braves stadium

The latest, greatest major-league ballpark that's being funded by taxpayers isn't even complete yet and already it's coming at an unforeseen cost. The Braves are moving from Turner Field in downtown Atlanta to SunTrust Park in suburban Cobb County at the start of the 2017 season and may not be in for the most gracious welcome.
As Big League Stew laid out in 2013, the cost of the stadium is to be split by the Braves (55 percent) and local contributions (45 percent). Included in those local contributions was "$8,670,000 annually from reallocating Cobb County property taxes," which is a fancy and bureaucratic way of saying dollars previously earmarked for other projects was going to be funneled into the ballpark bankroll.

Now we know, close to two and a half years later, what's hitting the chopping block: a $40 million bond to acquire and build public parks, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After initially saying there were no funds available for the project, county officials have changed their stance to say $20 million is still on the table for use. Commission Chairman Tim Lee has said a tax increase would be needed to go ahead with the $40 million plan. The public park proposal was approved by Cobb County residents in 2008 with a 65 percent majority, while the stadium expenditures were never put to vote. There was, however, the promise of no tax hikes or the introduction of new taxes to subsidize the stadium.

This is nothing new when it comes to the often sordid game of getting these stadiums paid for and built –just look at the Marlins Park mess. The Braves will make their move next season into what will likely be a beautiful ballpark in Cobb County. And because of that, it appears it'll be the only park local residents will see in the neighborhood for some time.