But Walker and supporters said it would cost taxpayers more to lose the team.
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The entire Bucks family is thankful for the leadership and bipartisan support of Governor Walker, state legislators, local officials, countless organizations and the community.
Bucks owner president Peter Feigin had said that the National Basketball Association could buy the team from the owners and relocate it if the funding package was not approved by the state’s lawmakers.
But his fellow Republicans who control the Legislature took the measure out of the budget and reworked the deal with some input from Democrats.
Tomorrow, Scott Walker will stand on a stage at State Fair Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and betray virtually every conservative economic principle there is by handing out up to $450 million in taxpayer money to wealthy sports owners to pay for private infrastructure at a time when public infrastructure is crumbling. “This was a good example where people came together, not only across party lines but from all over the state of Wisconsin”.
The league’s warning came despite Milwaukee’s current arena, the 18,000-seat BMO Harris Bradley Center, receiving $3 million in renovations a few years ago, which included suite upgrades, a new hospitality bar and new theater-style seating sections.
It added that the remaining $203 million stems from bonds issued by the arena and its related entertainment district paid off by state taxpayers; a $4 million decrease in state aid to Milwaukee during the next 20 years; and an increase in ticket surcharges and existing hotel, auto rental and food and beverage taxes collected from Milwaukee by the Wisconsin Center District.
Milwaukee is reportedly paying $47 million for building a parking structure and tax incremental financing, it added.
It said that the public money the sports franchise is receiving is coming over the next 20 years. Other conservative groups and blogs also criticized the deal.
“I do what’s right”, Walker said.
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“I think as they learn – they do learn it towards the end of their career. When the chips are down, I’m not intimidated by anyone”.
