ATLANTA - Georgia officials are preparing to spend more than $30 million to buy land and build parking for the new stadium that would be home to the Atlanta Falcons.
Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to approve a budget this month that includes a $17 million parking deck, a project made public days before the legislative session ended.
Records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show that state officials also could spend $16.3 million on land for the site.
Critics say the stadium project has many hidden costs, and they object to the way public funds are being used to build the stadium.
Public officials and team executives say the project will enhance the state-owned Georgia World Congress Center nearby, and the parking deck will be used for other events as well.