MIAMI – People living in Miami-Dade County who want to vote in the referendum concerning renovations at Sun Life Stadium have until Monday to register.
On May 14, voters will decide whether to increase the hotel bed tax in mainland Miami-Dade by one percent to help fund renovations at the Miami Dolphins' home. The team will pay for the local referendum.
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To register to vote, residents must: be 18 years or older; be a U.S. citizen; and, be a permanent resident of Miami-Dade County.
Residents wanting to register to vote can visit the Elections Department website and click on "Register to Vote." After completing the online form, it must be printed, signed, and mailed to the Elections Department at:
Supervisor of Elections
P.O. Box 51550
Miami, FL 33152
Forms must be postmarked by April 15 to be accepted. They can also be dropped off at:
Miami-Dade Elections Department
2700 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33172
The Sun Life Stadium deal
The deal, a 30-year economic development grant, includes a non-relocation agreement. The Dolphins could pay a minimum $120 million repayment penalty if certain conditions, including the number of Super Bowls and BCS Championship they land, aren't met.
The Dolphins have offered to pay the county and the state back the money it receives from a sales tax rebate of $3 million a year for 30 years.
The state legislature is considering a bill that would authorize the rebate and also raise the hotel bed tax. Under the Senate version of the bill, the Dolphins would have to compete for that money with other professional sports franchises in the state.
The Dolphins say that their 25-year-old stadium needs at least $350 million in improvements to remain competitive with newer stadiums around the NFL. In its deal with the county, the team will pay 70 percent of the cost.
The Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, who will move into a new stadium next year, are vying for Super Bowl L in 2016. The loser will compete against the Houston Texans to host Super Bowl LI in 2017.
NFL team owners will announce the locations of Super Bowls L and LI on May 22 in Boston.