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Pack asks for green Taxpayers to vote on renovation of Lambeau Field
Posted: Monday May 15, 2000 03:46 PM
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 we're 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. We're 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. "It's been a long haul and I think we're about halfway," said Packers President Bob Harlan. "There's 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.
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 there's not a citizen in Brown County who can't 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. "Don't 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."
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 you've ever gone to the bathroom in Lambeau Field during half-time you know it wasn't designed for 60-some thousand people." Prime said the sales tax was the best way to raise the money needed for the project. "I've had people tell me, 'Let's 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.
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 team's 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:
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.
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