Proposed budget eliminates Marcus Center provision
A pending control change for downtown Milwaukee’s Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, opposed by both the current operator and its prospective future owner, won’t happen under the pending state budget.
That’s according to comments made at Friday’s meeting of the Wisconsin Center District board.
The 2015 state law which created a $250 million public financing package for the new Milwaukee Bucks arena includes a provision requiring Milwaukee County to transfer the Marcus Center’s ownership to the center district.
The Marcus Center is operated by an independent board, but it draws much of its funds from the county. It also draws revenue from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Broadway at the Marcus Center and other groups that use the venue.
The Wisconsin Center District owns the future Bucks arena and will lease it to the basketball club when it’s completed in September 2018. The district, a public agency created by state law, also operates the Wisconsin Center convention facility, UWMilwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theater.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele wanted the district to own the Marcus Center to better coordinate operations of downtown’s public venues. The transfer provision was inserted into the Bucks arena financing legislation at his request.
However, the 2017-’18 budget proposal pending in the Senate would delete the transfer provision, said John Yingling, a consultant hired by the district.
Yingling, who operates Mequon-based Paladan Group LLC, told board members that discussions about removing that transfer provision are proceeding “to everybody’s satisfaction.”
“The change in legislation is a request from the Marcus Center that we agree with and are assisting to facilitate,” said Steve Michels, district spokesman.
The transfer provision would be dropped because the County Board passed a 2016 resolution saying county funding of the Marcus Center will halt if the district takes control of the facility.
The Abele administration has proposed a new lease with the Marcus Center. But that lease cannot take effect until the ownership change requirement is dropped, said Teig WhaleySmith, Abele’s director of administrative services.
Abele believes coordination has improved among the Marcus Center and the Wisconsin Center District’s venues over the past two years, WhaleySmith said.
“While Marcus Center ownership will remain with Milwaukee County, we’ll continue to collaborate closely with the Wisconsin Center District to ensure the most effective and efficient use of all of our facilities, which is in the taxpayers’ best interests,” said Paul Mathews, Marcus Center president.
The 2015 provision requires the county to transfer the Marcus Center “as soon as practicable” to the district.
The district board in 2015 unanimously approved a proposal delaying that transfer until at least 2020. Board members were concerned the district has its hands full overseeing the arena development and other activities, including a possible Wisconsin Center expansion.