Plans for a proposed $31 million baseball stadium on the Savannah River in downtown Augusta now go to a committee to research financing options.

Mayor Deke Copenhaver said he hopes the finance committee of the volunteer group spearheading the venture will make recommendations in 30 days.

"Obviously you could go the revenue bond route," he said during a Thursday presentation at the Augusta Botanical Gardens.

"You could go the general obligation bond route, but we want to know what is the best financing option for the city, so we still have some questions to be answered there," he said.

A general obligation bond would require a referendum and the bond debt would be paid off by taxpayers.

The presentation of the first phase of a study on the feasibility of a sports and entertainment complex also raised questions, such as how the city will acquire the property owned by the state.

The mayor said he has kept the State Properties Commission and the governor's office in the loop "every step of the way.

"We hope to reach an agreement with the state to somehow transfer ownership of the property to the city to allow this to go forward," he said.

Mr. Copenhaver said the study answered questions of whether the stadium would fit on the site and whether it is the highest and best use of the property.

"It fits and then some," he said, leaving room for retail or office space and still have room for the Botanical Gardens and a Golf Hall of Fame building.

"The site affords a tremendous amount for mixed-use opportunities," he said.

The economic impact would be $21 million a year from the stadium alone and $32 million from ancillary development that would come on land adjacent to the stadium, he said.

Former Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams, who has announced he will challenge state Sen. Ed Tarver for his District 22 seat, said he's open to any suggestions that would bring economic development to downtown Augusta, but would want to know how much money the stadium would bring compared with what it would cost.

In response to a question of whether there would be a need for an operational subsidy from the city, Mr. Copenhaver said, "Not at this point, but it would be a possibility."