County Board: No Racine County Tax for Bucks Arena

Racine County Supervisors are expected to approve a resolution that tells Milwaukee County to back off if they expect county residents to help pay for a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Already approved by the Executive Committee, the resolution was up for a first reading Tuesday and spells out pretty specifically how Racine County residents will not be on the hook for the cost of a new basketball arena, according to a story from The Journal Times.

Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, has said in the past that Racine County should recognize the positive economic impact of keeping an NBA team in Milwaukee. Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig said he sees the benefits only going into Milwaukee and not flowing the other way, according to the story.

Supervisor Robert Grove suggested flipping the tables a bit on Milwaukee County.

“Turn it around; let Milwaukee County come down and fund some of the things we do here,” he is quoted as saying.

Opposition to lending any financial help for a new arena stems from the sales tax increase in Racine County that continues to help pay for the construction of Miller Park. Sales tax increased from 5 percent to 5.1 percent, and that tax increase is still in effect. 

County supervisors are expected to approve the resolution at the board's Aug. 6 meeting.

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