The Milwaukee Post

By DAVE FIDLIN Special to The Post MILWAUKEE — After months of dizzying, sometimes polarizing debate, a final, defini- tive action on financing a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks could come down next week. Gov. Scott Walker has indicated he intends to formally sign into law an arena funding bill Aug. 12 at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds. The ceremonial gesture comes on the heels of two important votes in Madison that call on taxpayers to pony up $250 million to help fund the facility. In mid-July, the state Senate passed the bill on a bipartisan 21-10 vote. Last week, the Assembly followed suit with a 52-34 vote. The terms of the agreement encapsulated in the bill call on Bucks ownership to chip in $250 million toward the new facility, which will replace the functionally obsolete BMO Harris Bradley Center. Taxpayers will foot the remainder of the bill, which is expected to reach $400 million over a 20-year span of time. As the final pieces of the puzzle have come together, civic leaders and lawmakers across the state have weighed in on the issue, which has drawn praise from supporters because of the economic growth possibilities and criti- cism from opponents because of a perceived lack of priorities. In a statement immediately after the Assembly's vote last week, Walker's office lauded both branches of government for the majority support. "(The vote) protects taxpayers from the financial impact of losing the Bucks and opens the door to further job creation and eco- nomic growth for our state," the statement reads. "Gov. Walker thanks members of the Assembly for their bipartisan support of this bill and looks forward to signing it into law." Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, also has gone on record in expressing optimism in the future of the Bucks and the franchise's presence in the city. "We're incredibly grateful for the commit- ment of state, county and city officials to work together in a historic fashion to help shape this public-private partnership," Feigin said in a statement. "There's still work to be done and we look forward to building on this progress with the city and county." While there has been widespread support among lawmakers of allocating funds to see a new arena through, some of the finer points within the bill have stirred debate. State Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, said he is among the vocal majority who want the Bucks to remain in Milwaukee. But Bowen took aim at the public financing provisions. "I couldn't support the arena deal without reducing the $400 million financial burden on taxpayers, much of which will be paid for by Milwaukee residents," Bowen said. "While I support this project, without this change, I could not vote 'yes.'" The new arena, of course, is one piece of a greater puzzle aimed at transforming portions of Milwaukee's downtown area. For its part, the city of Milwaukee has con- vened a task force, composed of several mem- bers of the Common Council and a number of top-level city staffers, who have been charged with looking at the types of commercial devel- opments that will be best suited for the area. A so-called entertainment district has been planned for such areas as the county-owned Park East corridor, which itself has been the source of controversy because of the $1 sale price attached to the deal. August 7, 2015 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 Submitted photo Pictured is a rendering of what the new Milwaukee Bucks arena and entertainment district will look like. Walker expected to pass arena funding bill at State Fair Board: Lipscomb edges two other supervisors her decision to leave the County Board, though she did take jabs at Gov. Scott Walker's Act 14 legislation that takes effect in April. Act 14 states Milwaukee County supervi- sors' pay will be cut in half, from the $48,000 netted today to $24,000. The chair of the board will receive annual compensation of $35,706 — half of the $71,412 paycheck Dimitrijevic had been receiving. "We cannot let this divisive law define us, or its supporters truly will have won," Dimitrijevic wrote in her resignation letter. An attempt to contact Dimitrijevic for fur- ther clarification on the reasons behind her departure of the chair position was unsuc- cessful. On a 12-5 vote, Lipscomb edged out two other supervisors who threw their hats into the ring for consideration in the chair role when balloting took place last week. The other candidates were Willie Johnson Jr. and Michael Mayo Sr., both of whom represent portions of the city of Milwaukee. In his nomination letter to his colleagues, Lipscomb acknowledged the current and future challenges facing the County Board. "There will be times when we disagree, but it is in those times, especially, that we all deserve a chairperson who is fair and deals with each of us in an honest and straight-for- ward manner," Lipscomb wrote. "We need a chairperson who will stand up and provide a strong voice in support of the policy and budget role of this legislative branch, particularly against the ongoing over- reach of the county executive." The board in recent years has, at times, had a strained relationship with the county executive, Chris Abele. Both sides of county operations have especially been at odds over budgetary issues — a fact that perhaps is most pronounced during each year's budget delib- erations. For his part, though, Abele offered a swift congratulatory note to Lipscomb, hours after he was appointed to his new position. "Your leadership will significantly impact the county's future, and I look forward to working with you and the rest of the board as we continue to improve services and bolster the sustainability of Milwaukee County," Abele said in a statement. Despite the changes afoot in next spring's election, Lipscomb has indicated he intends to seek re-election. When the dust settles, a new County Board chair will be appointed in for a four-year term in April. continued from Page 1 ❑ Yes, I want my FREE subscription to the Milwaukee County Post mailed to my home every week. (Free delivery available in the following zip codes: 53110, 53129, 53130, 53132, 53154, 53172, 53207, 53214, 53215, 53219, 53220, 53221, 53227, 53228, 53235. Bill will be sent to homes outside of these zip codes.) 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