Senator Alberta Darling suspects Bucks arena funding plan will be pulled from state budget

MADISON -- The co-chair of the Legislature's budget committee says a $500 million financing plan for a new Milwaukee Bucks stadium may be pulled from the state budget and taken up as a separate bill.

Republican Sen. Alberta Darling told The Associated Press on Wednesday that no final decisions have been made, but she suspects that is what will happen. Sen. Luther Olsen, another Republican member of the Joint Finance Committee, agreed.

Backers of the plan have urged its inclusion in the budget, hoping that would speed its passage and make it easier to find approval among those wary of taking a separate vote on the deal.

Gov. Scott Walker announced the financing deal June 4 that relies on $250 million from current and former team owners and $250 million from taxpayers.