(Washington, DC) Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi issued a letter to Mayor Anthony A. Williams and Council Chair Linda W. Cropp regarding financing for the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium proposed for Southeast.

Gandhi said that the Office of the Chief Financial Officer “will move forward with the stadium bond financing if the Mayor signs the Ballpark Hard and Soft Costs Cap and Ballpark Lease Conditional Approval Emergency Act of 2006 passed last week, and if by close of business on March 6, 2006, Major League Baseball and the Sports and Entertainment Commission acknowledge and accept in writing the terms stated in the Act.”

Once all parties have accepted the terms, Gandhi can provide the required certification that the funds are available to meet the terms of the lease agreement, which is necessary before the bonds to finance the stadium can be issued.