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In an extra-innings clash over the proposed Minnesota Twins ballpark, members of the Hennepin County Board approved a new Twins ballpark deal Tuesday night that raises the total project cost to $522 million, or $44 million more than last year's price tag.

The vote the customary 4-3 on ballpark matters was taken at the board's Intergovernmental Relations Committee Tuesday, the same day as the team's season home opener. Because the committee includes all seven board members, the vote at the full board meeting next Tuesday will likely be the same.

With the state House Tax Committee scheduled to hear the ballpark bill next Wednesday, stadium spearhead Mike Opat urged his fellow commissioners to act on what he said would be "one of the most exciting places in North America."

He referred to the other entertainment spots and enhanced rail transit at the site, the Minneapolis Warehouse District.

The increased cost includes an additional $30 million for construction of the actual ballpark and $14 million more for infrastructure and financing outlays. Most of the increases, which are due to inflation, would be borne by the county, should the ballpark be approved at the state Capitol.

County officials believe the tax as proposed will be enough to handle the cost of the increase.

The Twins have agreed to pay $5 million of the $30 million increase for the ballpark itself by opening day, and pay another $5 million over 27 years, thereby reducing the county's share of ongoing improvements to the structure.

So of the $522 million estimated cost at opening day for ballpark and related costs, the county would pay $392 million and the Twins would pay $130 million.

Board action on a new agreement was necessary because the original ballpark agreement expired at the close of 2005 after a measure failed to pass the Legislature last year. But Tuesday's vote did not come without some stinging criticism.

Member Penny Steele called the agreement "a new iteration of a bad deal," adding the county sales tax would be "one of the sadder things that a public body has done to its citizens." Steele was joined in her dissent by Gail Dorfman and Linda Koblick, the latter of whom peppered the majority with questions about the reasonableness of the county paying 75 percent of the project. Joining Opat were Peter McLaughlin, Mark Stenglein and Randy Johnson, who say the project will benefit the city, county and state in many ways. The debate lasted more than two hours, even though only dollar figures changed from the previous agreement.

While stadium issues saw their stock rise with House approval of a University of Minnesota football stadium last week, the Twins vote at the Capitol will be more difficult for lawmakers, due to the proposed 0.15 percent sales tax 3 cents on a $20 purchase and a request for a waiver from a state law requiring a county-wide referendum on the levy.

Ballpark supporters say they need to avoid a vote because it would create delays and greater expense. Opponents say backers' real fear is simply that residents would vote down the tax.

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