Stakeholders say no deal on public financing for a new Milwaukee Bucks arena was reached in their latest meeting, with Mayor Tom Barrett assessing, ”There’s still absolutely work to be done.”
“It’s a complicated equation and we’re trying to solve the equation,” said Barrett after yesterday’s meeting in Milwaukee, which was closed to the press.
Barrett denied there is any particular hangup in the talks but noted: “Everyone in this network’s trying to protect the taxpayers; some of us have different taxpayers, but we’re all trying to protect them.”
Barrett said the talks haven’t yet reached the point of discussing specific dollar amounts.
“It’s more, ‘How do we get to an agreement?’ and then those numbers will fill in at some point. It’s more of how do we divide things?” he said.
Along with Barrett, those participating in the meeting included Gov. Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Exec Chris Abele, state lawmakers and Bucks officials. Walker and Abele left the meeting through a back entrance and avoided reporters.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the mix of state and local funding for the arena remains part of the discussion, but, “We gotta come together and make this work.”
The Juneau Republican said his plan to use loans from the state Board of Commissioners of Public Land is still “part of the deal.”
“If you look at it, compared to the bonding, it still brings the costs down significantly,” Fitzgerald said, referring to Walker’s previous proposal for the state to bond for $220 million.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said, “The same players were in the room and the same issues were discussed” but he felt “having the governor there was a positive.”
Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said the deal is “a step closer” but not to the point of establishing an actual framework for a deal.
“I’m sure you guys want us to come out and say there’s white smoke, but we’re not there yet,” Nygren said. “We’re putting pen to paper and making sure where everybody is at and they feel comfortable.”
Barrett stressed the meeting “did not break up in rancor” and he’s optimistic a deal can be made. Barrett said he couldn’t predict when. “I’m not putting any timeframe on this at all.”
