Report: Scott Walker to Include Jock Tax in Budget

The Milwaukee Business Journal is reporting that Gov. Scott Walker will include a jock tax in the next budget to help fund a new Milwaukee arena project for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is preparing to propose diverting revenue from taxes on NBA players for public funding of a new arena in downtown Milwaukee, sources close to the situation told the Milwaukee Business Journal.

In June 2014 Walker said in an interview with the Milwaukee Business Journal that he was studying the possibility of tapping NBA players' income tax for arena construction funding, a so-called "jock tax." Since then when asked about arena funding, Walker has said he can't make a decision until he sees the Bucks owners' plans.

In response to a Business Journal request for comment Friday, Walker's office responded by email with this statement: "The budget process is ongoing. In the coming weeks, Governor Walker will be making announcements as the budget is finalized."

Sources told the Business Journal that Walker is likely to announce his arena-funding plan before he gives his state budget address Feb. 3. The proposal is likely to face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled state Legislature, and the Republican governor would be making a major, controversial move to back an arena supported by Milwaukee business leaders.

If the report is true, Walker is going to make a very strong effort to find a way to build a Milwaukee arena. And a showdown may be looming with Republicans in the legislature.

You can’t just buy land and “convert” it to sovereign land.

Actually, a Tribe can do so for purposes of gaming compacts. They first need to petition the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. If BIA approves, the Tribe needs to also negotiate a gaming compact and gain the approval of that state's governor.

In this instance, the Menomonee Tribe of Wisconsin submitted an application to BIA, negotiated an operating compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida who own the exclusive Indian gaming rights to the use of the Hard Rock Café Casino name brand, gained approval of BIA for their application, lobbied local Kenosha leaders for their support of the proposal and negotiated a proposed gaming compact with the State. The only step remaining was Gov. Walker's approval.

OK, details of Walker's new Bucks arena funding plan are being revealed. It is less horrible than first feared.

Walker's plan calls for:

1. The State of Wisconsin to issue a $220 million revenue bond.
2. The bond to require full and immediate repayment by the Bucks if they are sold before the retirement of the debt.
3. The establishment a Jock Tax "base" of the current tax revenue from NBA players at $6.5 million.
4. The state of Wisconsin to divert all "surplus" NBA Jock Tax monies in excess of $6.5 million annually to help retire the $220 million revenue bond.
5. The Jock Tax surplus diversion will continue until bond debt is retired.

I will acknowledge that Walker's plan is innovative. It also creates the illusion (but not the reality) that the NBA players are paying for the new arena.

But I'm still opposed to any state funding for a new downtown Milwaukee arena.

I don't like creating a false "surplus" (maybe if the $6.5 million base were indexed for inflation, I would have less of an issue).
I don't like subsidizing billionaires.
A new arena is not needed and will turn the Bradley Center into another unused arena facility.
A new arena will not result in any new economic development other than construction.
It will create economic losers among the local bar and restaurant owners currently near the Bradley Center.
It will make the Bucks and their affiliated bar & restaurant owners in the new arena economic winners.
Government should not be picking economic winners and losers.

And when the patrons pay more, then those who do not participate as patrons will not.

I see nothing wrong with making the players and owners pay more via taxes. Even if they pass it along to the fans, then at least those who are not fans will not be subsidizing what they don’t like.

We do it all the time, why should it be different for sports?

Walker is the Chamber of Commerce candidate!

He will be the GOPe’s guy for sure.

Forget Romney and Bush, they’re just a smoke screen.

Walker is a super-establishment candidate.
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>> “You can’t just buy land and “convert” it to sovereign land.” <<

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Haven’t you noticed?

The constitution has been ‘converted’ to charmin.

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