Remember Sept. 12 2000, when local tax payers approved a .5 increase in sales tax (5% to 5.5% to fund Lambeau Field? This tax is set to expire in 2015. Now rumor has it that the county is looking at keeping this .5 additional tax to fund local Govt. Humm not sure what to think of this? Here is what was written over 13 years ago about this tax. Posted: Monday May 15, 2000 03:46 PM Gov. Tommy Thompson shakes hands with Packer fan Larry Primeau after the on-field ceremony. AP GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Tommy Thompson signed legislation Saturday inside Lambeau Field that allows taxpayers to decide if they want to pay a half-cent sales tax to help finance a $295 million stadium renovation, ending a lengthy legislative battle. Today were putting the future of Lambeau Field in the hands of the people of Brown County, Thompson said as he signed the bill on the football field. Lambeau Field is old by professional sports standards but we are not going to let it go. Were going to rebuild this stadium. The legislation -- stemming from negotiations between the team, local officials and lawmakers -- allows a Brown County referendum in the Sept. 12 primary on a proposed half-percent sales tax to finance $160 million in construction bonds to pay for the project. Its been a long haul and I think were about halfway, said Packers President Bob Harlan. Theres a lot of hurdles to get over and we understand that. The Legislature, after months of wrangling, sent the bill to Thompson May 2 once the Assembly agreed to changes the Senate made to it in April. Whats Next Green Bay Packers officials and taxpayer advocates will launch their public campaigns for and against imposing a half-cent sales tax to finance $160 million in construction bonds for the $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field. If the Brown County Board schedules the vote Sept. 12, a two-question referendum will go before voters, asking whether they approve the tax and whether any extra revenue should go to the county for property tax relief. Before any borrowing could occur, the Packers must agree to lease the stadium from the city of Green Bay for 30 years. A seven-member stadium district board would authorize the borrowing and collect the sales tax. The Green Bay mayor and the Brown County executive would each get three appointments; the village president of Ashwaubenon, one. About $3.4 million a year in maintenance costs would be collected from the sales tax. The Packers would contribute $500,000 annually, raised from a stadium ticket surcharge. The team wants to begin construction in January, with completion by 2003. Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin, at the direction of the City Council, is forming a committee to look at ways to fund stadium renovations, if possible, without public dollars. The proposal received strong bipartisan support in both chambers. Harlan said team officials would work hard to make sure we do it the right way -- answer the questions, tell people what they want to know and explain why we need to do this. Team officials contend improvements to the 43-year-old stadium are necessary in order for the Green Bay Packers to remain financially competitive in the NFL. You know theres not a citizen in Brown County who cant call (Vice President) John Jones or myself and talk to us about it, Harlan said. But about a dozen protesters inside the stadium for the bill signing appeared to have already made up their minds. Dont roll over and play dead. Vote no, one sign read. Bob Schmaltz, 77, of Green Bay, said he opposed using taxpayer money to support private enterprise. If you wanted to start an organization tomorrow do you think you could go to the state Legislature and get them to pass a sales tax to support your organization? No. Decision 2000 Questions going before Brown County voters in a referendum scheduled for the Sept. 12 primary to decide whether a half-cent sales tax should be imposed to help pay for a $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field: Question 1 -- Shall a sales tax and a use tax be imposed at the rate of 0.5 percent in Brown County for purposes related to football stadium facilities in the professional football stadium district? Question 2 -- Shall excess revenues from the 0.5 percent sales tax and use tax be permitted to be used for property tax relief purposes in Brown County? Those holding signs opposing the sales tax were surrounded by twice as many supporters holding signs with messages including, Save our stadium. Larry Prime, wearing the antlered costume that earned him the nickname Percolate, said the renovations were long overdue. If youve ever gone to the bathroom in Lambeau Field during half-time you know it wasnt designed for 60-some thousand people. Prime said the sales tax was the best way to raise the money needed for the project. Ive had people tell me, Lets sell cupcakes and stuff. But how many cupcakes do you have to sell for $295 million, he said. Packers officials say the stadium renovation, which would expand seating capacity by 10,000 and include a mall-like atrium connected to the stadium, would create new sources of revenue the franchise needs to stay competitive. The team wants to begin construction in January and finish the project in time for the 2003 season. Proposed Improvements Some details of the $295 million worth of improvements proposed for Lambeau Field by the Green Bay Packers: New seating capacity: 71,000. About 6,000 of the 10,000 new seats would be created by adding several rows to the top of the bowl. Luxury boxes: The number would drop from 198 to 167 but the new ones would be larger and cost more. They would be on the west side of the stadium. Club seats: The number of indoor club seats would increase from 1,920 to 3,060 and 3,200 new outdoor club seats would be added on the east side of the stadium. Concession areas: The number would increase from 186 permanent and portable sites to 282 general areas. Parking stalls: The number on the stadium grounds would be reduced from 5,525 to 4,900. Bathrooms: The number would double. Five story atrium: The new structure on the east side of the stadium would include 25,000 square feet for the Packer Hall of Fame, about 5,000 square foot more than in the current facility, and 8,000 square for a retail store to sell Packers merchandise, about 6,300 square feet more than in the current facility. Much of the dispute between Assembly Republicans and Senate Democrats during the three-month debate over the Lambeau Field bill was whether public money should be used to cover the teams maintenance costs. The Lambeau Field bill first proposed and passed by the Assembly included using $4 million a year in sales tax proceeds to cover those costs. Senate Democrats balked at that amount and went through drawn-out negotiations with team officials to cut those costs. Under the legislation Thompson signed Saturday, money from the sales tax will pay for $3.4 million a year in maintenance costs. The Packers will contribute $500,000 annually, raised from a stadium ticket surcharge. A seven-member stadium district board, appointed by Brown County officials, will oversee the renovation. In addition to the $160 million in bonds, the rest of the project will be funded by: $92.5 million from a season ticket holders user fee; $20.4 million from a Packers stock sale; $13 million NFL construction loan. The governor vetoed two minor provisions of the bill, including one that would let the state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands use the state Investment Board to invest its assets. Thompson said the measure was a significant policy change that merited its own debate in the Legislature. The governor also vetoed a provision that would have required that Brown County officials, in addition to city of Green Bay officials, approve funding for maintenance costs and the sale of naming rights for the stadium. Thompson said it was unreasonable to require county approval since the city owns the stadium.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:18:46 +0000
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