ZEBULON, N.C. — The

Carolina Mudcats

and Wake County leaders consider a new financial proposal a homerun for everyone.

Wake County commissioners agreed Monday to let the Carolina Mudcats pay its lease at Five County Stadium 10 years in advance. In turn, the county will give the team the money back for improvements to the stadium.

"It's the only way to get it accomplished in a timely fashion, and if we wait until the money had accumulated to do it, the cost overrun would be phenomenal," Mudcats owner Steve Bryant said.

Last year, $3 million in taxpayer money was spent to fix up the stadium.

Commissioners say the deal is good because no taxpayer money is involved.