What will it take to make a new Milwaukee Bucks arena plan a reality?
MILWAUKEE -- The Common Council is just one of the groups who will vote to fork out money to pay for a new Bucks arena. State lawmakers are still split over how to vote on their share. Meanwhile, the County Board will have its say on some of the land involved.
The County Board has no say in the proposed share of the county funding but it will decide whether the Bucks' owners can buy the vacant Park East land for $1. Meanwhile, the debate continues among senate republicans in Madison over whether arena funding should be voted on as part of the state budget.
During Thursday's arena deal announcement at the Wisconsin State Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, made clear there are still questions as to which lawmakers would vote for the arena plan if it were its own bill or as amendment to the budget.
"I don't really have a handle yet on where the support is and I think that'll take a while, we'll have to talk about it. Now that it's kind of out on the street, I think people can get a feel for what they support and what they have concerns about," said Fitzgerald.
Senate President Mary Lazich told FOX6 News she still wants the arena out of the budget all together.
Senator Alberta Darling, co-chair of the budget-writing joint finance committee, says GOP senators are very much split on the issue.
"I am highly skeptical and I think the county's getting a raw deal here," said Milwaukee County Supervisor, Patricia Jursik.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee County Board will vote on the proposed sale of four blocks of Park East land. That property has been vacant for more than ten years and under the arena proposal, the land would be used for a new Bucks practice facility, new apartments, offices, retail, and parking.
The county's economic development director recommends the board approve selling the four blocks for $1 because of the costs associated with testing and preparing the land -- which still has freeway pillars buried underground.
Supervisor Patricia Jursik says she supports a new arena but wonders if this proposed sale next to the arena site is the best deal for the county.
"I mean, perhaps we could develops part of the Park East and sell part of the Park East from the county offset some of those property tax dollars -- but that's not part of the discussion here. I have some real questions," said Jursik.
The full County Board will hear a full presentation on the proposed Park East sale Tuesday afternoon, June 9th. Later on that evening, the board will host a public hearing on the arena deal at the war memorial.