State Senator Chris Larson Contrasts Abele’s Domes “Steering Committee” with Rush to Build the New Bucks Arena
“Abele was happy to have County taxpayers pick up the $80 million tab for a couple of billionaires, but he doesn’t want to spend any public money on our Domes...”
The Domes. Photo courtesy of the Park People of Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE – State Senator Chris Larson, a candidate for Milwaukee County Executive in the April 5th spring election, today compared Abele’s cumbersome “Domes Long-Term Planning Steering Committee” to the rush last year to commit to the new Bucks arena without any public input.
Larson issued the following statement:
“Abele’s announcement regarding the Domes Steering Committee further demonstrates that his approach is a story of two public projects: the Bucks arena deal and the Domes. When the Bucks owners wanted a new arena, Abele sprang into action with no public hearings and no concern for cost. Milwaukee County taxpayers are now committed to paying $80 million dollars over twenty years with no dedicated funding source.
“If you compare the rushed Bucks deal with the Mitchell Park Domes you see this sudden change in attitude. Instead of acting quickly like he did on the arena, Abele ignored his own Parks director and dragged his feet on installing nets in the Domes to catch falling debris.
“There were no public listening sessions on the Bucks deal but now Abele says he wants to have listening sessions on the Domes.
Citing the sale of the valuable Park East land for $1, Larson noted “At the very least, the $8 million we didn’t get for the land could have gone to not just keeping the Domes open right now but could have gone to improving our other great parks around Milwaukee County.”
“Abele was happy to have County taxpayers pick up the $80 million tab for a couple of billionaires, but he doesn’t want to spend any public money on our Domes, which average working people use every day.”
Larson for County Executive
The Domes
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Sen. Chris Larson
Well, most of the money for the new arena is not coming from the County. Are you suggesting an additional advisory group on the design of the new arena? Do you not feel that the advice and guidance of the City leaders involved is adequate? If you are so dissatisfied with the arena deal, why did you vote for it?
State auditors estimate taxpayers will pay, with interest,$400 million for the Bucks Arena. That ‘s not counting the value of free land and tax breaks. Only $80 million will come from state coffers, so locals will cover $320 million.
County taxpayers will pay $80 million from the county budget.
City residents will pay $55 million plus interest from various kitties.
Countywide taxpayers and visitors will pay off $73 million plus interest in hospitality taxes, including a .5 percent tax on all food-and-beverage sales. That won’t kick in for several years so those taxes could still be in effect when the arena will be due for replacement in 25-30 years.