The financing plan calls for 48 percent of the cost to be invested by Great Western Sports, 48 percent to be paid by bonds that would be repaid by sales taxes, and four percent from an admissions tax. The facility would be publicly owned by a three-county speedway authority, with ISC signing a long-term lease.
The financing proposal would not require new taxes, and would generate $613 million in new tax revenues over 25 years, ISC officials said. The estimates are based on a study by Berk & Associates that was commissioned by ISC.

“I think everybody's been waiting for this (the financing plan) …before they can come out and support it,” said Grant Lynch, ISC regional vice president and project coordinator for the Kitsap track. He said the proposal is the fairest one the state has ever had regarding public financing of sports facilities.

Since the announcement, however, the support has not been expressed publicly by the state's lawmakers, in whose hands the public portion of the funding rests.

“We should not fund private companies, it's not our job in government,” said 23rd Legislative District Rep. Sherry Appleton, who said she does not see any public benefit for the project that is asking for public money. “If we were like New York, where they pay the full amount, I'd be the first one to cut the ribbon,” she said, referring to plans by ISC to build a new track in New York and fully fund it by the company. “I know it's a golden opportunity to get Kitsap's name on the map, but it has to be done right.”

Rep. William “Ike” Eickmeyer of the 35th Legislative District said there are too many unanswered questions, and not enough time in the 60-day session to answer them. One of his questions is who is left holding the financial responsibility if the facility fails.

“The very people in the driver's seat, the committee chairs, are not in favor at this point in time,” he said. “Politically, I don't think it can be sold. Too many people have said no already.”

But local business leaders hope to change that. The chambers of commerce of Bremerton, Port Orchard, North Mason and Shelton have previously endorsed the project and are trying to gather forces to lobby officials. The plan has also been endorsed by the Kitsap Economic Development Council, and the Port Orchard Independent has editorialized in favor of it as well.

“We thought (the proposal) was more than fair. The only taxes to be used are only new taxes generated by the facility,” said Silvia Klatman, executive director of the Bremerton chamber.

The chambers have each conducted membership surveys on the subject, and found that the majority of their members would like to see the track built, and believed it will have at least indirect benefits for their businesses.

The Bremerton Chamber also conducted conference phone calls with representatives of four communities across the country that have ISC tracks, asking questions about traffic impact, economic development, crime, ISC company practices, and more. One of the comments from Phoenix was that the track “helps improve the quality of life for everyone. Streets, roads, schools all get money from people who come in, dump money and go home.” A comment from one of the Joliet, Ill., representatives was, “Why wouldn't you want $20 million in tax revenue?”

Lawmakers said they have received dozens of messages from constituents, and the feedback is overwhelmingly negative. But supporters say it's only because so far mostly opponents have taken the time to write letters to the editor or contact their elected officials. The chambers, along with the Kitsap Visitors and Convention Bureau, are launching a grass-roots effort to get those positive messages out. Many business owners are also working individually to garner support.

“The people who have come against it so far have a lot of time on their hands to create adversity. When it comes time to show the support of community people like myself who are busy running their business, and other community leaders, they will rise and show there is tremendous support,” said Rick Flaherty, owner of Port Orchard-based Leader International Corp.

Supporters are also hoping to get the help from people like Jim Housel, a Longview resident who drove to Bremerton in December for a special luncheon discussing the track. “I'm your Joe Average Guy who'll come to the track, and I'm all for this,” he told those in attendance. “I've started a one-man e-mail campaign… to get the word out to the public who are for the track” to get a hold of their politicians, he said.

Business leaders hope that kind of feedback reaches especially those lawmakers who are still willing to listen to all sides before making a decision whether to support the track or not.

“As an economic development person, I'm intrigued about the potential economic development opportunities, but I've got a lot of questions,” said 26th Legislative District Rep. Derek Kilmer, who works for the Tacoma Pierce County Economic Development Board. “It's unfortunate the legislative session is fast approaching and they are pretty late in the game getting the proposal to the Legislature.”

“I'll continue to look at it and consider it,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller of District 23, who said his main concerns about transportation, secondary impacts on local government from demand for additional police and emergency services, as well as questions on how accurate the financial assumptions are. “At this point, I really question whether this investment is the best one we can make.”.