I wrote about this multiple times. This is a great package for the Brewers. It’s terrible for the taxpayers. One thing it confirmed for me was that there are no, or very few, small government Republicans left in Wisconsin. The fact that there was so little opposition to this spending package is ample evidence of that fact.
The package went through multiple revisions as lawmakers worked to find ways to reduce the public subsidy. The bill Evers finally signed calls for a state contribution of $365.8 million doled out in annual payments through 2050. The city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will contribute a combined $135 million.
The legislation also imposes surcharges on tickets to nonbaseball events at the stadium such as rock concerts or monster truck rallies. The surcharges are expected to generate $20.7 million.
The Brewers, for their part, will spend $110 million and extend their lease at the stadium through 2050, keeping Major League Baseball in its smallest market for another 27 years.
The bill easily passed the Legislature last month, with the Assembly approving it on a 72-26 vote and the Senate following suit 19-14. Attanasio said during the signing that the Brewers have received inquiries from other cities about relocating but moving was never an option. He said he understands how painful it was for the community when the Milwaukee Braves left for Atlanta in 1966. He did not name the cities inquiring about hosting the Brewers.
Milwaukee can’t find money to dispose of Christmas trees anymore, but they can find plenty for raises for their politicians and professional sports franchises. Those AmFam Field parking lots would make for a nice taxpayer supported collection (dumping) point.