Just hours after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker unveiled his plan to help the Milwaukee Bucks finance construction of a new arena in downtown Milwaukee, opposition from conservative interests outside the city of Milwaukee already is being expressed.
Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin state director David Fladeboe released the following statement in response to Walker’s “Pay Their Way” plan for the arena: “We are disappointed to hear that the state is embarking on yet another plan to finance a sports arena in Milwaukee. While it appears that some protections are being put into place, the Governor’s plan would put the state and taxpayers on the hook for future obligations. Funding for sports arenas should not be the responsibility of the state and the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin. Rather than big-government expansions, we’re waiting on the governor to embrace bold proposals that promote freedom like passing Right-to-Work legislation. That is what our hundred-thousand-plus members are telling us they want to be the priority this session.”
State Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) said, “Today, Gov. Walker released an excerpt of his biennial budget proposal relating to public financing of $220 million for the proposed Bucks arena in Milwaukee. The proposal is being labeled ‘Pay Their Way’ because it would take the increased tax revenue from players over what is currently being collected and use it to fund the bond payments. Over time, the salaries of professional sports players have increased dramatically. As those salaries rise, so too does the income tax collect by the state from those players. These revenues currently go into the state’s general fund and are used to for general operations, which includes everything from education to roads. The governor’s proposal would divert these increased tax dollars, which are included in future revenue projections, away from taxpayers to the owners of the Bucks to help fund the Milwaukee arena. The practical impact of the proposal is that all state taxpayers would be funding the new arena. The total cost, using average assumptions and including interest payments, could range from approximately $300 million to $400 million. In meeting with my constituents, they have expressed serious concerns about using public funds to finance a new arena. While I share their concerns, I am eager to review the full details of the governor’s proposal.”
State Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) said, “As for the Milwaukee Bucks arena announcement, I firmly believe that we need to do the research necessary to ensure that we are making decisions based on what’s best for Wisconsin taxpayers. The state cannot be on the hook for the cost of this prospective project; the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County need to come to the table with resources. This is a starting point for discussion, and I look forward to exploring this issue further.”
For more details about Walker’s plan, click here.
