Officials inch closer to deal for a new Bucks arena saying, "I think we're getting there"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- While officials say they're making progress toward a deal for a new arena, it's still quite early in the process. The current meetings involve a handful of politicians, but many more elected officials will end up having a say.
If and when executive leaders such as Governor Walker, Mayor Barrett, and County Executive Able announce an agreement for an arena funding package -- that won't be the end of it.
Instead, it will just put the deal up for three separate votes.
After Thursday's meeting between state, county, city and Bucks officials, Senate Majority Leader, Scott Fitzgerald, says it's reasonable to think that within the next couple of weeks, there could be a funding agreement for a new downtown arena.
"I think so, I think we're getting there with the work being down, the numbers are being crunched behind the scenes -- I think we can get there," said Fitzgerald.
"Probably the most important thing to remember is whatever they announce, in whatever shoulder-to-shoulder press conferences, that doesn't mean it's done. There still have to be other elected officials, the legislators who vote on it," said University of Milwaukee Political Science Professor, Mordecai Lee.
UWM Urban Planning Professor, Mordecai Lee, says the different public contributions will then go before the State Legislature, the Milwaukee County Board, and the Common Council -- putting a new set of elected officials in the spotlight.
"There will probably be a handful of members of the Common Council, or the County Board, or the State Legislature, who are going to be the swing votes, who are going to be the ones who make it pass or make it fail," said Lee.
Rob Henken, President of the Public Policy Forum, says one way around that would be to put language in the upcoming state budget as it relates to the state's share of arena funding.
"The state budget, in the end, is a bill which becomes a law so there could be legislative language crafted that could provide the manner in which the approval process is to take place at the county level and conceivably, at the city level," said Henken.
There is one universal agreement so far, the Bucks through sales and player income taxes, generate big bucks.
"We're trying to find a way to protect that stream of revenue," said Governor Scott Walker.
Henken says while possible, it is unlikely the state would try to dictate the approval process for the city and county, adding there could be legal challenges to such an effort.
Officials at Thursday's meeting say they haven't scheduled the next session but say it will be soon.