Public institutions

Wis. Stat. ch. 229

in effect

Wis. Stat. § 229.11 First class city museums

Any city of the 1st class however incorporated may establish and maintain, for the free use of the inhabitants thereof, a public museum for the exhibition of objects in natural history, anthropology and history, either the several or any one of these specifically; and may receive, hold and manage any bequest, donation or loan for the establishment, increase or maintenance thereof, under such regulations and conditions as may be prescribed pursuant to law or agreed upon by and between the donors and said city.

Wis. Stat. § 229.12 Board of trustees, composition

(1) The public museum shall be administered by a board of 10 trustees, consisting of: (a) The president of the board of school directors and the city superintendent of schools. (b) Seven members who shall be appointed by the mayor on the 3rd Tuesday in April. Three of the 7 members shall be selected from among the alderpersons holding a 4-year term, and shall serve as such trustees during their aldermanic terms; and the other 4 shall be selected from among the residents and taxpayers of the city, for original terms of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively, commencing on May 1 next after their appointment, and for successive terms of 4 years each. (c) One member who shall be a county board member residing in the county outside the city of the 1st class, who shall be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county board for a 4-year term commencing on May 1 next after the member’s appointment, and for successive terms of 4 years each. (2) Said trustees shall take the official oath, and be subject to the restrictions, disabilities, liabilities, punishments and limitations prescribed by law as to alderpersons in such city. They shall not receive any compensation for their services as such trustees; and shall not individually become or cause themselves to become interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or job for the purchase of any matter pertaining to the institution in their charge, or of fuel, furniture, stationery or other things necessary for the increase and maintenance thereof.

Wis. Stat. § 229.13 Board of trustees; annual meeting and general functions

(1) The annual meeting of the board of trustees of the public museum shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday of May in each year, at which meeting a president shall be chosen annually from their number. (2) The board shall have general care, control and supervision of the museum, its appurtenances, fixtures and furniture, and of the disbursements of all moneys belonging to the museum funds. The trustees of the public museum shall have charge of the receipt, selection, arrangement and disposition of the specimens and objects pertaining to such museum. The board shall prescribe regulations for the management, care, and use of the public museum, and adopt such measures as shall promote the public utility thereof, and may prescribe and enforce penalties for violations of such regulations.

Wis. Stat. § 229.14 Director and employees; curators

(1) At its first meeting the board of trustees shall elect by ballot a person of suitable learning, scientific attainments, ability and experience for director of the public museum. The director shall be selected in accordance with and shall be subject to the usual laws, rules and regulations of the city civil service commission. The director shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the board of trustees and shall be the secretary of the board. (2) The board shall appoint and fix the compensation of such assistants and employees for the institution as they deem necessary and expedient. (3) The board of the public museum may appoint an acting director whenever, in their discretion, the service of the museum shall require it, who shall also be acting secretary of the board and whose acts as such shall receive full credit. (4) The board of the public museum may appoint as honorary curators persons who have manifested a special interest in the museum or some particular department thereof. Such curators shall perform such duties and have such privileges as may be prescribed in the regulations of the museum, but shall not receive any pecuniary compensation.

Wis. Stat. § 229.15 Museum funds; expenditures

(1) Public museum funds appropriated to the museum by the common council shall not be used or appropriated, directly or indirectly, for any purpose other than the maintenance and increase, payment of the salaries of the employees, purchase of fuel, supplies, furniture and fixtures, or incidental repairs of the museum. (2) All moneys appropriated for the purposes of said institutions shall be paid over to the city treasurer and credited to said funds, respectively. Each board of trustees shall provide for all necessary expenditures from each said fund, and all disbursements shall be made on orders of the president and secretary of the board, countersigned by the city comptroller; but, except as expressly provided otherwise, the board shall not in any one year expend or incur any liability for any sum in excess of the amount allocated to each such fund by the common council.

Wis. Stat. § 229.16 Donations and miscellaneous receipts

(1) All moneys, books, specimens and other property received by devise, bequest or gift for the purposes of the public museum shall, unless otherwise directed by the donor, be under the management and control of the board of trustees of the public museum. (2) All moneys derived from penalties for violations of the regulations of the public museum, or from any other source in the course of the administration thereof, including all moneys paid to the city upon any policy of insurance or other obligation or liability for or on account of loss or damage to property pertaining to the public museum, shall be credited to public museum funds and may be expended in the manner prescribed in s. 229.15 (2), in addition to the annual tax.

Wis. Stat. § 229.17 Site, buildings and equipment

The board of trustees of the public museum shall erect, purchase, hire or lease buildings, lots, rooms and furniture for the use and accommodation of the public museum, and shall enlarge, improve and repair such buildings, rooms and furniture; but shall not erect, purchase, lease, or enlarge any building or lot without express authority of an ordinance or resolution of the common council. All deeds of conveyance and leases shall run to the city.

Wis. Stat. § 229.18 Accountability; reports

(1) Within 10 days after the appointment of a director or custodian or other salaried employees, the board of trustees of the museum shall report to and file with the city comptroller a certified list of the persons so appointed, stating the salary allowed to each and the time or times fixed for the payment thereof. (2) Immediately after any meeting of the board at which accounts and bills are allowed, the board shall furnish such comptroller with a list of all accounts and bills allowed at said meeting, stating the character of the materials or services for which the same were rendered. (3) On or before the first day of March in each year, the board shall make a report to the common council, for the year ending with the December 31 next prior thereto, containing a statement of the condition of the museum, the articles added to the museum, and such other information and suggestions as the board deems important, including also an account of the moneys credited to the museum fund, and the expenditures therefrom during the year.

Wis. Stat. § 229.19 Applicability of sections 229.11 to 229.18

Sections 229.11 to 229.18 so far as they relate to museums are extended to cities of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th class.

Wis. Stat. § 229.21 First class city auditoriums and music halls

(1) Any city of the 1st class may establish and maintain public auditoriums and music halls; and may establish, maintain and operate the same jointly, share and share alike, by agreement between the common council of such city and any private corporation duly organized for that purpose. (2) Such private corporation shall execute to the city a bond, in a sum determined and with sureties approved by said common council, conditioned that the said corporation will furnish its share of money as the same shall be required for the purposes specified in sub. (1). (3) Said city may acquire all the stock of such corporation and become the sole owner of said auditorium and music halls; and any stockholder may transfer his or her stock to the city by sale, gift or otherwise. If the city shall be unable to agree with the holder upon the purchase price of any such stock, the city may purchase the same at a price to be determined by a board of arbitration consisting of 3 persons, one to be chosen by the common council, the 2nd by the owner of such stock, and the 3rd to be chosen by the aforesaid 2, and the determination of said board shall be final and conclusive upon the parties. (4) Whenever such city shall have acquired any of the stock of such corporation, the common council shall elect one of its members or the mayor to represent the city at all meetings of the stockholders of the corporation, and shall be entitled to vote said stock; and all notices of such meeting shall be given to said mayor or member of the council in the manner such notices are given to any other stockholder. (5) Whenever the city has acquired all the stock of the corporation, the corporation shall be dissolved as a result of the city’s action and the title to all its property shall vest in the city; thereupon the auditorium board provided for in s. 229.22 (1) and (2) shall be reorganized under s. 229.22 (3). (7) Any such city may build additions to such auditoriums and for the purposes of any such addition, by action of the common council, issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0913 payable exclusively from income and revenues of any such addition and of any auditorium to which it is added which said auditoriums and additions thereto for such purpose are declared a public utility. Said private corporation shall not be required to contribute to any such addition. Any such addition shall be subject in all other respects to ss. 229.21 to 229.25.

Wis. Stat. § 229.22 Auditorium board

(1) The building, maintenance and operation of the institution shall be under the full and complete control of a board of 13 members, designated as the “Auditorium Board” and constituted as follows: Five of the members shall be elected by the corporation, from among its stockholders, for first terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively, and successive terms of 5 years each; and the other members shall consist of the mayor, city attorney, city comptroller, city treasurer, one alderperson member of the library board and a different alderperson member of the board of trustees of the public museum, of the city, selected respectively by the library board and the board of trustees and 2 alderpersons appointed by the president of the common council for terms of 5 years. An alderperson appointed by the president shall serve only while serving as alderperson. (2) Within 10 days after the members of said board shall have been elected or appointed as aforesaid they shall hold a meeting and shall elect a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer from their number, who shall hold office until the 4th Tuesday of April of the next following even-numbered year, and shall thereafter be elected biennially on the 4th Tuesday in April of the even-numbered years, for a term of 2 years. The treasurer shall, immediately upon election, furnish to the board a bond equal to the amount of such funds as may come into the treasurer’s hands. (3) If the auditorium corporation is dissolved under s. 229.21 (5), or its operation and existence is terminated by action of the corporation, by a court of competent jurisdiction or by any other means and certification of the termination is recorded in the office of the register of deeds of Milwaukee County, then the common council shall create, by ordinance or resolution, a new board to be designated as the “Auditorium Board” which shall be responsible for the building maintenance and operation of the institution. The common council shall determine, by ordinance or resolution, the number of members of the board, their manner of appointment and the terms for which they are appointed. Upon creation and appointment of members of the board created under this subsection, the board created under sub. (1) shall terminate its activities and shall cease to exist. (4) The common council may merge, by ordinance or resolution, the auditorium board created under sub. (3) with the exposition and convention center and arena board under s. 229.26. If the boards are merged, the council shall also determine the number of members of the merged board, their manner of appointment and the length of the terms for which they are appointed. Upon creation and appointment of the merged board under this subsection the boards created under sub. (3) and s. 229.26 shall terminate their operation and cease to exist. The merged board shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the auditorium facility and shall have the duties and powers under s. 229.26.

Wis. Stat. § 229.23 Property and finance

(1) The title to all property acquired for the purposes of said institution shall be in the name of said city, and shall be held by said city perpetually for such purposes. (2) Before incurring any liability, the auditorium board shall by resolution determine the amount of money necessary for the purposes of said institution; and thereupon said corporation shall pay into the auditorium fund one-half thereof, in such installments as may be required and agreed upon. All receipts on account of said institution shall be paid into, and all expenditures defrayed from the auditorium fund. (3) If any such institution shall at any time when there shall be outstanding no bonds issued under s. 229.21 (7) become profit-earning, over and above the expense of maintenance, repairs, insurance and other expenses connected with the operation thereof, the net profits arising from the original auditorium shall be separated from those arising from the addition, and the net profits arising from the original auditorium shall be divided equally between said corporation and the city treasury, and the net profits from said addition shall be paid into the city treasury, the amounts paid into the city treasury from either source to be credited to the general city fund. If, however, at any time there shall be outstanding bonds issued under s. 229.21 (7), any net profit from such auditorium and such addition shall be applied from time to time, or held by the treasurer to apply on the interest and principal of said bonds.

Wis. Stat. § 229.24 Operation

(1) The auditorium board shall regulate and control the use of said institution, and fix the terms and conditions of its use; and shall do all things necessary for the maintenance and operation thereof. (2) Said institution shall be used primarily for public meetings, conventions, expositions, and other purposes of a public nature, which are hereby declared to be public purposes; but not for exhibits or trade shows if a charge is made for space occupied by any exhibitor or when an admission fee is exacted. (3) When not in use for any of said primary purposes, the board may rent said institution, or any part thereof, on such terms and for such purposes as may be deemed advisable and not inconsistent with said primary purposes. (4) (a) In this subsection: 1. “Convention” means a county, state, or national assembly of authorized, chosen, or elected delegates or representatives meeting to accomplish some specific commercial, industrial, labor, civil, social, scientific, or educational object. 2. “Patriotic affairs” means affairs given for the encouragement and support of the government in time of war, or for the benefit and support of soldiers, sailors, or marines who have been, or are in the service of the United States, including memorial exercises, exhibitions, fairs, reunions, entertainments, or barracks for such persons, and to all of which affairs the public is admitted without charge. (c) When not in use for any of its primary purposes, the common council of said city may authorize the gratuitous use of said institution, or any part thereof, for the purposes of conventions, or for offices, class rooms, studios, gymnasiums, lodge rooms, or accommodations for any industrial, commercial, scientific, educational, fraternal, musical, or labor organization which in its opinion will prove a public benefit to the city and promote the welfare and public interests of its citizens and to which said citizens are admitted without charge; and said purposes are hereby declared to be public purposes. (d) Whenever the common council shall approve the gratuitous use of the institution for the particular conventions and purposes specified in this subsection, said common council shall appropriate to the auditorium fund the usual and customary rentals charged therefor. The aggregate amount to be so expended may be made a part of the annual budget, as provided by ch. 65, 1943 stats.

Wis. Stat. § 229.25 Annual report

The auditorium board shall report annually to the common council all receipts into and disbursements from the auditorium fund, and the balance on hand.

Wis. Stat. § 229.26 Exposition center

(1) Any city of the 1st class may in addition to all other powers conferred upon it establish and maintain a convention complex and exposition center, hereinafter termed “convention institution”, for the purpose of holding conventions, public meetings, expositions, exhibits, trade shows, gatherings, conferences and other related purposes of a public nature which are hereby declared to be public purposes. (2) The building, maintenance and operation of the convention institution shall be under the complete and autonomous control of a board which shall act independently and shall be designated as the “(city) Exposition and Convention Center and Arena Board”. Such board shall be composed of the number of members as provided for by resolution adopted by the common council of such city. The common council shall prescribe the terms of members of the board and shall designate the manner in which they shall be selected. The board may sue and be sued. (3) The board shall have complete maintenance, supervision, control and operation of the convention institution and it shall regulate, control and designate the use thereof. The board shall also fix the terms and conditions for its use and do all things necessary for the maintenance and operation thereof and it shall handle all finances of the convention institution. (4) Title to all property real or personal of the convention institution shall be in the name of such city and shall, except as provided in s. 229.47 (1), be held by such city for such purposes, but the board shall determine the use to which such property shall be devoted as provided for in this section. (4m) A common council that creates a convention institution under this section may dissolve the convention institution and the convention institution’s board and transfer all of the assets and liabilities owned or administered by the convention institution if the common council enters into a transfer agreement under s. 229.47 (1) with a district that has jurisdiction over the territory in which the convention institution is located. (5) The common council of such city may appropriate such sums as may be required to supplement revenues of the convention institution in order for the board to regulate, control and operate the convention institution. The board may receive gifts and contributions from any source as in the judgment of such board shall be consistent and in keeping with the general operations and public purpose of the convention institution. (6) The common council may by resolution adopted by it impose additional duties and responsibilities upon the board in connection with the operation, maintenance and control of such convention institution, however, the board shall itself determine the manner in which such operation shall be performed. (7) In addition to all other powers of the board, the board may hire and retain personnel including the selection of a general manager for the convention institution and the board shall determine the manner of selection of all of its employees. The board shall establish the compensation for its personnel but shall relate as far as possible to general wage rates of such city of the 1st class for comparable work performed. The board may also enter into contracts on behalf of the board without first obtaining approval of the common council of such city and such contracts may be entered into with respect to all matters which relate to the operation, control and use of the convention institution as determined by the board. (8) The board shall report annually or more frequently as the common council so determines with respect to all receipts and disbursements of the board, balances of the board’s funds and all other matters which bear upon the board’s operations. Expenditures made by the board from funds under its control shall not require prior approval of the common council of such city. (10) If the employees who perform services for the board are included within one or more collective bargaining units under subch. IV of ch. 111 that do not include other employees of the sponsoring municipality, and a collective bargaining agreement exists between the sponsoring municipality and the representative of those employees in any such unit, and if the common council enters into a transfer agreement under s. 229.47 (1), the board shall transfer its functions under that collective bargaining agreement to a local exposition district under subch. II in accordance with the transfer agreement. Upon the effective date of the transfer, the local exposition district shall carry out the functions of the employer under that agreement. Notwithstanding s. 111.70 (4) (d), during the term of any such collective bargaining agreement that is in effect at the time of the transfer, the existing collective bargaining unit to which the agreement applies shall not be altered.

Wis. Stat. § 229.27 Municipal theater

(1) Any city of the 1st class may, in addition to all other powers conferred upon it, establish and maintain a municipal theater hereinafter termed “theater”, for the purpose of providing a community facility to further the advancement of the performing arts and other related purposes of a public nature which are hereby declared to be public purposes. (2) An independent board shall be designated by the local governing body as the “(City) Theater Board”. The board shall be composed of the number of members as provided for by resolution adopted by the local governing body of the city. The local governing body shall prescribe the terms of members of the board. Members shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the local governing body. (3) The board shall have complete and autonomous control of the building, maintenance, supervision and operation of the theater; and shall regulate, control and designate the use thereof. The board shall also fix the terms and conditions for use of the theater and do all things necessary for the maintenance and operation thereof and shall handle all finances of the theater. The board shall also contract or otherwise provide for personnel and other services and rentals necessary for the operation of the facility. The board may sue and be sued. (4) (a) Title to all property, real or personal, of the theater may be in the name of the city and may be held by the city perpetually for such purposes, but the board shall determine the use to which the property shall be devoted under this section. (b) Subject to the approval of the local governing body of the city, the board may enter into a transfer agreement with another person to provide the terms and conditions upon which the board may transfer any of the city’s interests in an existing theater. A transfer may take the form of a sale, lease or other conveyance and may be with or without financial consideration, except that if the transfer is made to a private, for-profit entity, the transfer shall be for fair market financial consideration. A transfer agreement shall require the transferee to accept an assignment of all contracts with other persons, with respect to the transferred theater, that are in force at the time of the transfer except that this provision does not apply to collective bargaining contracts. (5) The local governing body of such city may appropriate such sums as may be required to supplement revenues of the theater in order for the board to regulate, control and operate the theater. As in the judgment of such board shall be consistent and in keeping with the general operation and public purposes of the theater, the board may receive, hold and manage any devise, bequest, donation or loan for the establishment, increase or maintenance thereof, under such regulations and conditions as may be prescribed pursuant to law or agreed upon by and between the donors and the board. (6) The local governing body may by resolution adopted by it impose additional duties and responsibilities upon the board in connection with the operation, maintenance and control of the theater, however the board shall itself determine the manner in which such operations shall be performed. (7) In addition to all other powers of the board, the board may hire and retain all personnel, or contract or designate responsibility for the supervision of the theater and the board shall determine the manner of selection of all of its employees, contracts or designees. The board shall establish the compensation for its personnel. The board may enter into contracts on behalf of the board without first obtaining approval of the local governing body of the city, and such contracts may be entered into with respect to all matters which relate to the operation, control and use of the theater as determined by the board. (8) The board shall report annually or more frequently as the local governing body so determines with respect to all receipts and disbursements of the board, balances of the board’s funds and all other matters which bear upon the board’s operations. Expenditures made by the board from funds under its control shall not require the approval of the local governing body of the city. (9) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, all actions of the board may be reviewed, modified or nullified by appropriate action of the local governing body.

Wis. Stat. § 229.40 Legislative declaration

(1) The legislature finds and determines that the provision of assistance by state agencies, in conjunction with local units of government, to a district under this subchapter and any expenditure of funds to assist a district under this subchapter serve a statewide public purpose by assisting the development and construction of sports and entertainment arena facilities in the state for providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment, by preserving business activities within the state, and by bringing needed capital into the state for the benefit and welfare of people throughout the state. (2) The legislature finds and determines that a district serves a public purpose in the district’s jurisdiction to the local units of government in which it is located by providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment, by preserving business activities within the district’s jurisdiction, and by bringing needed capital into the district’s jurisdiction for the benefit and welfare of people in the district’s jurisdiction.

Wis. Stat. § 229.41 Definitions

In this subchapter: (2) “Board of directors” means the board of directors of a district. (3) “Bond” means any bond, note or other obligation of a district issued under this subchapter. (3m) “Bond resolution” means a resolution of the board of directors authorizing the issuance of, or providing terms and conditions related to, bonds and includes, where appropriate, any trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust providing terms and conditions for bonds. (4) “Chief executive officer” means, as to a sponsoring municipality, the mayor or city manager of a city, the village president of a village or the county executive of a county or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors. (4m) “District” means a special purpose district created under this subchapter. (5) “Enabling resolution” means a resolution, or an amendment of a resolution, adopted by the governing body of a sponsoring municipality and signed by the chief executive officer to create a district. (6) “Exposition center” means one or more related structures, including fixtures and equipment, owned, operated or leased by a district and used primarily for conventions, expositions, trade shows, musical or dramatic events or other events involving educational, cultural or commercial activities, and not primarily for recreational or sporting activities. (7) “Exposition center facilities” means land or structures, including fixtures and equipment, owned, operated or leased by a district that are used primarily to support the activities of an exposition center, and are functionally related to the exposition center, such as offices, parking lots and garages, storage or loading facilities, access ways, transportation facilities, restaurants and stores. (8) “Exposition center site” means land owned, operated or leased by a district upon which an exposition center or exposition center facilities exist or may be constructed. (9) “Private sector entity” means an entity that is not a public sector entity. (9e) “Professional basketball team” means a team that is a member of a league of professional basketball teams that have home arenas approved by the league in at least 10 states and a collective average attendance for all league members of at least 10,000 persons per game over the 5 years immediately preceding the year in which a district is created. (10) “Public sector entity” means this state, a city, village, town or county or a quasi-governmental entity. (11) “Sponsoring municipality” means any city, village, town or county that creates a district either separately or in combination with another city, village, town or county. (11e) “Sports and entertainment arena” means the arena structure and the land necessary for its location that is used as the home arena of a professional basketball team and for other sports, recreation, and entertainment activities. (11g) “Sports and entertainment arena facilities” means the sports and entertainment arena and structures, including all fixtures, equipment, and tangible personal property that are used primarily to support the operation of the sports and entertainment arena or are functionally related to the sports and entertainment arena, located on land not to exceed 9 contiguous acres in area. Such sports and entertainment arena facilities shall include such land and may include offices of the professional basketball team or its affiliate, parking spaces and garages, storage or loading facilities, access ways, sidewalks, a skywalk, plazas, transportation facilities, and sports team stores located on such land. In addition, “sports and entertainment arena facilities” also includes a parking structure to be constructed by a professional basketball team or its affiliate in conjunction with the construction of the sports and entertainment arena and to be owned by the sponsoring municipality. (12) “Transfer agreement” means the contract between a district and a sponsoring municipality under s. 229.47 (1), or a contract between a district and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation under s. 229.47 (2), that provides the terms and conditions upon which the ownership and operation of an exposition center and exposition center facilities or ownership of the Bradley Center or any part of the center, including real property, is transferred from a sponsoring municipality or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation to the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.42 Creation and organization

(1) A sponsoring municipality may create a special purpose district that is a unit of government, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state and the sponsoring municipality, and that has the powers under s. 229.44, if the sponsoring municipality does all of the following: (a) Adopts an enabling resolution, subject to sub. (2), that does all of the following: 1. Declares the need for establishing the district. 2. Contains findings of public purpose. 3. Names the district. 4. Contains a description of the exposition center to be developed, owned, leased or operated by the district. 5. If the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, states that the municipality agrees to stop imposing and collecting its room tax under s. 66.0615 (1m) (a). (b) Files copies of the enabling resolution with the secretary of administration, the secretary of revenue and the county executive, if the sponsoring municipality is not a county. (2) A district may have more than one sponsoring municipality if each sponsoring municipality is identified in a substantially similar enabling resolution that is adopted by the governing body of each sponsoring municipality within a 90-day period commencing with the date of adoption of the first enabling resolution. (3) The district shall be governed by its board of directors and, except for the 3rd member described under sub. (4) (d) who is either a chief executive officer of a municipality or a resident of the district, may not act until all of the persons appointed to its board are certified under s. 229.435. The board of directors shall adopt bylaws to govern the district’s activities, subject to this subchapter. (4) Subject to sub. (4e), if the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 17 members, who shall be qualified and appointed, subject to sub. (7) (b), as follows: (a) Two members, who shall be residents of the sponsoring municipality and primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the sponsoring municipality. (b) Three members, each of whom shall be a resident of the sponsoring municipality and primarily an employee or officer of a public sector entity, shall be appointed by the president of the governing body of the sponsoring municipality and the president may appoint himself or herself. (c) One member shall be the comptroller of the sponsoring municipality, except that if the sponsoring municipality does not have a comptroller one member shall be the chief financial officer of the sponsoring municipality. (d) Three members, 2 of whom shall be primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, shall be appointed by the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located and the 2 private sector entity members shall reside in the county but may not reside in the sponsoring municipality. The 3rd member shall be the chief executive officer of a municipality that contributes a minimum of five-fourteenths of its room tax to an entity which promotes tourism and conventions within the jurisdiction of the district, as that term is used in s. 229.43, except that if no municipality makes this minimum contribution the 3rd member shall be a resident of the district. The room tax contribution shall be at least $150,000 each year. The chief executive officer appointed under this paragraph shall serve a term that expires 2 years after his or her appointment, or shall serve until the expiration of his or her term of elective office, whichever occurs first. This paragraph does not apply, and no appointments may be made under this paragraph, after the secretary of administration issues the certification described in sub. (4e) (d). (e) Four members, one of whom shall be the secretary of administration and 3 of whom shall be primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, who shall be appointed by the governor. Of the 3 members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity, at least one of the appointees shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district’s jurisdiction and that has significant involvement with the food and beverage industry and at least one of the appointees shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district’s jurisdiction and that has significant involvement with the lodging industry. At least 2 of the appointees under this paragraph shall reside in the district’s jurisdiction but may not reside in the sponsoring municipality. Upon the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in sub. (4e) (d), the secretary may continue to serve on the board of directors or may select a designee to serve in his or her place, and the 3 members previously appointed by the governor under this paragraph shall be appointed by the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph. (f) 1. Two members, one of whom shall be the speaker of the assembly, or his or her designee, and one of whom shall be the senate majority leader, or his or her designee, if the designee is a member of the same house of the legislature as the speaker or majority leader who makes the designation. 2. Two members, one of whom shall be the minority leader of the assembly, or his or her designee, and one of whom shall be the senate minority leader, or his or her designee, if the designee is a member of the same house of the legislature as the minority leader who makes the designation. (g) Upon the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in sub. (4e) (d): 1. One member who shall be appointed by the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located and who shall be either primarily an employee or officer of a private sector entity. The appointee shall own, operate, or manage an enterprise that is located within the district’s jurisdiction and that has either significant involvement with the food and beverage industry or significant involvement with the lodging industry. The appointee under this subdivision shall reside in the district’s jurisdiction but may not reside in the sponsoring municipality. 2. One member who shall be appointed by the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located and who is the chief executive officer, or his or her designee, of a municipality that contributes a minimum of five-fourteenths of its room tax to an entity that promotes tourism and conventions within the jurisdiction of the district, as that term is used in s. 229.43. If no municipality makes this minimum contribution, the county executive shall appoint an additional member who shall be a resident of the district. The room tax contribution shall be at least $150,000 each year. The chief executive officer described under this subdivision shall serve a term that is concurrent with his or her term of elective office. (h) Upon the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in sub. (4e) (d), one member shall be the comptroller of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located, except that if that county does not have a comptroller, one member shall be the chief financial officer of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located. (4e) (a) With regard to a district that exists on August 14, 2015, notwithstanding the provisions of subs. (4) (a) to (f) and (7) (b), the terms of office of all members of the board of directors shall expire on August 14, 2015, except that the secretary of administration shall continue as a board member and he or she shall become chairperson of the board of directors, notwithstanding sub. (8). (b) Not later than 30 days after August 14, 2015, each appointing authority under sub. (4) (a) to (e) shall appoint and certify new members of the board of directors as provided in sub. (4) and s. 229.435, except that the secretary of administration who continues in office as provided in par. (a) need not be reappointed under sub. (4) (e). The members described in sub. (4) (c) and (f) shall become members of the board of directors on August 14, 2015. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub. (3), the secretary of administration may act before all board members appointed as provided in par. (b) are certified. (d) The secretary of administration shall serve as chairperson of the board of directors until the secretary certifies that a sports and entertainment arena, the construction of which commences on or after August 14, 2015, is completed. The secretary of administration shall make the certification described under this paragraph as soon as he or she determines that the sports and entertainment arena is completed, but not later than the first game played in the sports and entertainment arena by the professional basketball team that uses the arena as its home arena. (e) The terms of board members appointed under par. (b) shall expire or terminate upon the earliest occurrence of one of the following: 1. Two years after the member is certified under s. 229.435. 2. The secretary of administration makes the certification described in par. (d). 3. One of the provisions described in sub. (7) (b) 2. or 3. occurs. (f) Upon the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in par. (d), which shall cause the expiration or termination of the terms of all board members as provided in this subsection, each appointing authority under sub. (4) shall appoint and certify new members of the board of directors, as provided in sub. (4) and s. 229.435, not later than 30 days after the secretary issues the certification. The secretary of administration or the secretary’s designee, and the persons described in sub. (4) (c), (f), and (h), are considered to be certified upon the secretary issuing the certification described in par. (d). A board of directors consisting of members whose appointments are described under this paragraph may not take any action until a majority of board members so appointed are certified. No individual appointive board member may act until he or she is appointed and certified. (5) (a) If a district has 2 or more sponsoring municipalities, one of which is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 8 members appointed by the chief executive officers of the sponsoring municipalities. The allocation of appointments by the chief executive officers and the expiration dates of the terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolutions. The directors shall be subject to sub. (7) (a). (b) If a district has 2 or more sponsoring municipalities, none of which is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 6 members appointed by the chief executive officer of each sponsoring municipality. The allocation of appointments by the chief executive officers and the expiration dates of the terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolutions. The directors shall be subject to sub. (7) (a). (6) If the sole sponsoring municipality is not a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 6 members, all of whom shall reside in the area of the district’s jurisdiction and shall be appointed by the sponsoring municipality’s chief executive officer, subject to sub. (7) (a). The expiration dates of the members’ terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolution. Three of the directors shall be elected or appointed public officials of the sponsoring municipality, one shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district’s jurisdiction and that has a significant involvement with the hotel, motel and lodging industry, one shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district’s jurisdiction and that has a significant involvement with the food and beverage industry and one shall be an at-large appointment who is an employee or officer of a private sector entity. (7) (a) Appointments by the chief executive officer under subs. (5) and (6) shall be subject to confirmation by the governing body of the sponsoring municipality. The terms of office of the public sector members of the board of directors shall be 3 years and shall expire upon the earlier of a date specified in the enabling resolution or the expiration of their respective terms of public office. The terms of office of the members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity shall be 3 years, except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district one-third of the appointments of such members shall be for one year, one-third shall be for 2 years and one-third shall be for 3 years. If the number of members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity is not divisible by 3, for the initial appointments of such members for a newly created district, approximately one-third of the appointments shall be for one year, approximately one-third shall be for 2 years and approximately one-third shall be for 3 years. No members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity may serve more than 2 consecutive full terms. Members may be removed from the board of directors prior to the expiration of their terms only by the chief executive officer and only for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. (b) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the terms of office of the members of the board shall be 3 years, except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district, as specified in the enabling resolution, 4 of the appointments shall be for one year, 4 appointments, including the 3 members appointed under sub. (4) (d), shall be for 2 years and 4 appointments shall be for 3 years. The cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance or their designees shall serve on the board for a term that is concurrent with their terms in office and the comptroller’s appointment shall be for the comptroller’s tenure in his or her position. 1m. Subject to subds. 2. and 3. and sub. (4) (g), the terms of office of the members of the board of directors shall be 3 years, except that for the initial appointments that occur following the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in sub. (4e) (d), 3 of the appointments shall be for one year, 3 appointments shall be for 2 years, and 3 appointments shall be for 3 years. The comptroller’s appointments shall be for the comptroller’s tenure in his or her position. The term of the secretary of administration or his or her designee shall be concurrent with the secretary’s term in office, and the terms of the persons described in sub. (4) (f) shall be their terms in office or the term of the person who designated the board members under sub. (4) (f). The length of the initial terms shall be determined jointly by the secretary of administration and the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located. With regard to appointed board members to whom this subdivision applies, no individual may serve on the board of directors for more than 9 years. 2. The term of a public sector member shall expire or terminate upon the earliest occurrence of one of the following: a. The term for which he or she was appointed expires. b. The member’s term in public office expires. c. The member is removed by his or her appointing authority for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. 3. The term of a member who is an officer or employee of a private sector entity shall expire or terminate upon the earliest occurrence of one of the following: a. The term for which he or she was appointed expires. b. A member that is subject to a residency requirement establishes a nonqualifying residence. c. A member that is appointed as a member from the food and beverage industry or the lodging industry no longer qualifies as an industry representative as described in sub. (4) (e). d. The member is removed by his or her appointing authority for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. (8) The board of directors shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the board of directors constitutes a quorum to do business. Except as provided in ss. 66.0615 (1m) (b) and 77.981, the district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum. (9) The members of the board of directors shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Wis. Stat. § 229.43 Jurisdiction

A district’s jurisdiction is the sponsoring municipality’s geographical area, except that, if the sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the district’s jurisdiction is that city and each city and village that is wholly or partly contained within the most populous county in which that city is located and except that no territory may be included within the jurisdiction of more than one district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.44 Powers of a district

A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do any of the following: (1) Adopt and alter an official seal. (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded. (3) Maintain an office. (4) Do any of the following in connection with an exposition center and exposition center facilities and sports and entertainment arena and sports and entertainment arena facilities: (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the exposition center and exposition center facilities, or engage other persons to do these things. Acquire, construct, and equip the sports and entertainment arena and sports and entertainment arena facilities, or engage other persons to do these things. If the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the non-relocation agreement or lease under s. 229.461, the district may equip, maintain, improve, operate, and manage the sports and entertainment arena and sports and entertainment arena facilities, or engage other persons to do these things, but only from moneys received from the parent company of the professional basketball team, the professional basketball team, or its affiliate resulting from the breach of the non-relocation agreement or lease. (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; or transfer or accept transfers of property. With the approval of all sponsoring municipalities of the district, the district may acquire property by condemnation using the procedure under s. 32.05 or 32.06. (c) Improve, maintain, and repair real property, except that the district may only improve, maintain, and repair the sports and entertainment arena facilities, or engage other persons to do these things, if the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the non-relocation agreement or lease under s. 229.461 and only from moneys received from the parent company of the professional basketball team, the professional basketball team, or its affiliate resulting from the breach of the non-relocation agreement or lease. (d) Enter into contracts. Except as provided in s. 229.461, all contracts, the estimated costs of which exceed $100,000, except contracts subject to s. 229.46 (5) and contracts for personal or professional services, shall be subject to bid and shall be awarded to the lowest qualified and competent bidder. The district may reject any bid that is submitted under this paragraph. (e) Grant concessions. (f) Sell or otherwise dispose of unneeded or unwanted property. (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 or 229.47 (1) as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan. (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301 or 229.47 (1), participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance. (7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district’s property or funds. (8) Issue bonds under ss. 229.48 to 229.56 and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements. (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the board considers appropriate. (10) Direct its agents or employees, if properly identified in writing, to enter upon real property within its jurisdiction to make surveys and examinations before locating or constructing an exposition center or exposition center facilities, without incurring liability by the district, its agents or employees except for actual damage done. Before directing anyone to enter real property under this subsection, the district shall give the owner and occupant of the property at least 5 days’ written notice. (11) Promote, advertise and publicize its exposition center, exposition center facilities and related activities. (12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its exposition center and exposition center facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order. (13) Establish rates or other charges for the use of its exposition center and exposition center facilities or for services rendered by the district. (14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures or other arrangements with other persons, including other districts created under this subchapter, to further the district’s purposes. (15) If the district’s sponsoring municipality adopts a resolution described under s. 229.50 (1) (a), and if the district’s sponsoring municipality agrees to stop imposing and collecting its room tax under s. 66.0615 (1m) (a), adopt a resolution to impose the taxes under ss. 66.0615 (1m), 77.98 and 77.99, except that, if a district adopts a resolution under this subsection, it shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before its effective date.

Wis. Stat. § 229.45 Powers granted to sponsoring municipality

In addition to any powers that it may otherwise have, a sponsoring municipality may do any of the following: (1) Make grants or loans to a district upon terms that the sponsoring municipality considers appropriate. (2) Expend public funds to subsidize a district. (3) Borrow money under ss. 67.04 and 67.12 (12) for exposition center facilities or to fund grants, loans or subsidies to a district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.46 Certain contracting requirements

(1) In this section: (ag) “Disabled veteran-owned business” means a business certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3). (am) “Minority business” has the meaning given in s. 200.49 (1) (a). (b) “Minority group member” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (f). (c) “Women’s business” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation that is at least 51 percent owned, controlled and actively managed by women. (2) A person who is awarded a contract by a district shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that at least 25 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be minority group members, at least 5 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be women, and at least 1 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be employees of a disabled veteran-owned business, if any of the following applies: (a) The contract is for the construction of any part of an exposition center. (b) The contract results in the hiring of individuals who will work at the exposition center. (3) At least 25 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to minority businesses, at least 5 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to women’s businesses, and at least 1 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to disabled veteran-owned businesses: (a) Contracts for the construction of an exposition center. (b) Contracts entered into by the district for the purchase of services to be performed at the exposition center. (c) Contracts for the underwriting of bonds. (3m) It shall be a goal of a district, with regard to each of the contracts described under sub. (3) (a), (b) and (c), to award at least 25 percent of the dollar value of such contracts to minority businesses. (4) This section applies only to an exposition center that is being constructed under contracts that are funded by the proceeds of a bond issue that is secured by a special debt service reserve fund under s. 229.50. (5) Before a district initially constructs an exposition center or exposition center facilities, or enters into contracts for such initial construction, the district shall do all of the following: (a) Adopt or revise a program statement that includes all of the following: 1. An identification of the functions to be conducted in the exposition center or exposition center facilities. 2. An estimate of the space requirements for the functions described under subd. 1. 3. Minimum design requirements for the spaces described under subd. 2. 4. Site development requirements for the exposition center and exposition center facilities. 5. A maximum cost of the project. (b) Prescribe criteria for the preparation of requests for proposals for the initial construction of the exposition center and exposition center facilities. The criteria shall include all of the following: 1. The scope of responsibilities of the person or group of persons submitting the proposal. 2. The contractual relationships between a group of persons submitting a proposal. 3. General architectural elements. 4. Electrical systems. 5. Mechanical systems. 6. Plumbing systems. 7. Structural elements. (c) Solicit competitive sealed proposals for the design and initial construction of the exposition center and exposition center facilities. The panel described under sub. (6) shall evaluate the proposals using a 2-phase selection process. Under the first phase, offerors shall submit information responding to the district’s request for proposals, including the experience and past performance of the offerors, a management plan, general concept design features and a price analysis. An offeror may be eliminated from further consideration by the panel without discussion if any minimum requirements of the request for proposal are not met. The panel shall evaluate all first-phase proposals and select not more than 3 offerors to submit 2nd-phase proposals. All 2nd-phase proposals shall include all of the following: 1. Responses to any comments or questions by the panel relating to first phase submissions. 2. Refined initial design concepts, management plan and materials relating to experience and past performance. 3. A development schedule. 4. A guaranteed maximum price for the design and initial construction of the exposition center and exposition center facilities. 5. Detail of any fees, including all professional service and development fees. 6. Evidence that is satisfactory to the panel of the offeror’s ability to obtain bonds guaranteeing the offeror’s performance and bonds guaranteeing the payment for labor and materials by the offeror in amounts specified by the panel. 7. Any other information and materials requested by the panel. (d) Publish a class 2 notice under ch. 985 requesting the first-phase proposals described under par. (c). The advertisement shall include the date by which the proposals must be submitted, which shall be at least 7 days after the date of the last insertion of the notice. (e) Forward to the panel described under sub. (6), for its recommendations, all first-phase and 2nd-phase proposals received under par. (c). (6) (a) The district shall convene an evaluation panel to make recommendations concerning the competitive sealed proposals that the district solicits and receives under sub. (5). The panel shall consist of the following members: 1. A representative appointed by the chief executive officer of the city with the largest population within the district’s jurisdiction, as that term is used in s. 229.43. 2. Two representatives appointed by the secretary of administration, one of whom shall be a registered engineer and one of whom shall be a registered architect. 3. A representative appointed by the district who has experience in the construction of major facilities. 4. The comptroller of the sponsoring municipality with the largest population within the district’s jurisdiction, as that term is used in s. 229.43, except that if the sponsoring municipality does not have a comptroller the representative shall be the chief financial officer of the sponsoring municipality. (b) The panel under par. (a) shall evaluate the proposals and make its recommendations based on the adequacy of the responses to the information solicited in the district’s request for proposals, including the following factors: 1. The guaranteed maximum price. 2. The qualifications of the persons submitting the bids or proposals. 3. The time schedule contained in the proposals. 4. The design quality and suitability of the construction or remodeling plans contained in the proposals. (7) The district may retain the department of administration or any other consultant to assist in the preparation of the program statement required under sub. (5) (a), the criteria required under sub. (5) (b) or the request for proposals required under sub. (5) (c).

Wis. Stat. § 229.47 Transfer agreements

(1) A sponsoring municipality may enter into a transfer agreement with a district to provide the terms and conditions upon which the sponsoring municipality may transfer any interests in an existing exposition center and exposition center facilities created under this subchapter or an existing convention institution created under s. 229.26 to the district. The transfer agreement may include provisions for the division of revenues from taxes levied by the district under s. 66.0615 (1m) and subchs. VIII and IX of ch. 77 to fund costs incurred by the sponsoring municipality during any transition period in which the sponsoring municipality has continuing responsibility for the operation or maintenance of any exposition center, exposition center facilities or convention institution facilities. A transfer may take the form of a sale, lease or other conveyance and may be with or without financial consideration. A transfer agreement shall require the district to accept an assignment of all contracts with other persons, with respect to a transferred exposition center, exposition center facilities or convention institution facilities, that are in force at the time of transfer. If the employees who perform services for a board created under s. 229.26 (2) are included within one or more collective bargaining units under subch. IV of ch. 111 that do not include other employees of the sponsoring municipality, and a collective bargaining agreement exists between the sponsoring municipality and the representative of those employees in any such unit, the transfer agreement shall require the district to assume the functions of the employer under that collective bargaining agreement as provided in s. 229.26 (10). (2) (a) Subject to s. 232.05 (3) (a), a district shall enter into one or more transfer agreements with the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation regarding the transfer of the Bradley Center or any part of the center, including land that cannot be transferred under par. (b). Any such transfer shall be for nominal financial consideration. (b) Following execution of a lease under s. 229.461 (3) and forgiveness by the professional basketball team of any outstanding debt owed to the professional basketball team by the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall transfer to the district the land described in s. 229.41 (11e) that is owned by the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation. The transfer shall occur pursuant to transfer agreements and a parcel transfer schedule certified by the secretary of administration. (c) A transfer agreement shall specify that demolition of the Bradley Center will commence not later than 180 days after the center is transferred to the district, as described in s. 232.05 (2) (h) and that the Bradley Center parking structure may continue to exist and operate.

Wis. Stat. § 229.48 Issuance of bonds

(1) A district may issue bonds for costs and purposes that are related to an exposition center or an exposition center facility or sports and entertainment arena or sports and entertainment arena facilities, including all of the following: (a) Costs of acquiring, constructing, equipping, maintaining or improving an exposition center or an exposition center facility or initially developing and constructing a sports and entertainment arena or sports and entertainment arena facilities. (b) Costs of acquiring or improving an exposition center site or sports and entertainment arena facilities site. (c) Engineering, architectural or consultant fees, costs of environmental or feasibility studies, permit and license fees and similar planning or preparatory costs, that are related to an exposition center or exposition center facility or sports and entertainment arena or sports and entertainment arena facilities. (d) Funding budgeted costs for an exposition center or exposition center facility or sports and entertainment arena or sports and entertainment arena facilities for the 6-month period immediately following the completion of its construction or acquisition. (e) Interest on bonds or on any debt that is retired with the proceeds of bonds, if the interest is incurred or is reasonably expected to be incurred during the time period beginning a reasonable time period prior to the construction or acquisition of an exposition center or exposition center facility or sports and entertainment arena or sports and entertainment arena facilities and ending 6 months after the completion of the construction or acquisition. (f) Expenses related to the authorization, issuance and sale of the bonds. (g) Funding reserves authorized by the bond resolution. (1m) For financing purposes, exposition centers and exposition center facilities and sports and entertainment arenas and sports and entertainment arena facilities are public utilities and tax revenues imposed under s. 66.0615 (1m) (a) and (b) and subchs. VIII and IX of ch. 77 are property or income of the public utility. (2) All bonds are negotiable for all purposes, notwithstanding their payment from a limited source. A district may retain the building commission, the department of administration, or any other person as its financial consultant to assist with and coordinate the issuance of bonds and shall use the building commission as its financial consultant for bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund under s. 229.50. (3) The bonds of each issue shall be payable solely out of revenues of the district specified in the bond resolution under which the bonds are issued. (4) A district may not issue bonds unless the issuance is first authorized by a bond resolution. Bonds shall bear the dates, mature at the times not exceeding 40 years from their dates of issue, be payable at the times, be in the denominations, be in the form, carry the registration and conversion privileges, be executed in the manner, be payable in lawful money of any sovereign government at the places, and be subject to the terms of redemption, that the bond resolution provides. Bonds shall bear interest at fixed, variable or no interest, as provided in the bond resolution. The bonds shall be executed by the manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of the district designated by the board of directors. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale at the price, in the manner and at the time determined by the board of directors. Pending preparation of definitive bonds, a district may issue interim receipts or certificates that shall be exchanged for the definitive bonds. (5) A bond resolution may contain provisions, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds that are authorized by the bond resolution, regarding any of the following: (a) Pledging or assigning specified assets or revenues of the district. (b) Setting aside reserves or sinking funds, and the regulation, investment and disposition of these funds. (c) Limitations on the purpose to which or the investments in which the proceeds of the sale of any issue of bonds may be applied. (d) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured and the terms upon which additional bonds may rank on a parity with, or be subordinate or superior to, other bonds. (e) Funding, refunding, advance refunding or purchasing outstanding bonds. (f) Procedures, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent to the amendment and the manner in which this consent may be given. (g) Defining the acts or omissions to act that constitute a default in the duties of the district issuing the bonds to the bondholders, and providing the rights and remedies of the bondholders in the event of a default. (h) Other matters relating to the bonds that the board of directors considers desirable. (6) Neither the members of the board of directors nor any person executing the bonds is liable personally on the bonds or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, unless the personal liability or accountability is the result of willful misconduct. (7) The maximum amount of bond proceeds that a district may receive from bonds issued to fund the development and construction of sports and entertainment arena facilities is $203,000,000. The district may receive additional proceeds from the bonds to pay issuance or administrative costs related to the bonds, to make deposits in reserve funds related to the bonds, to pay accrued or funded interest on the bonds, and to pay the costs of credit enhancement for the bonds.

Wis. Stat. § 229.49 Bond security

A district may secure bonds by a trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust by and between the district and one or more corporate trustees. A bond resolution providing for the issuance of bonds so secured may mortgage, pledge, assign or grant security interests in some or all of the revenues and property of the district issuing the bonds and may contain those provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders that are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law. A bond resolution may contain other provisions determined by the board of directors to be reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders.

Wis. Stat. § 229.50 Special debt service reserve funds

(1) Establishment of special debt service reserve funds. A district may establish one or more special funds to secure its bonds, referred to in this subchapter as special debt service reserve funds, if, prior to each issuance of bonds to be secured by the special debt service reserve fund, the secretary of administration determines that all of the following conditions are met with respect to the bonds: (a) Substantial statewide public purpose. The proceeds of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used in connection with an exposition center, or an exposition center facility used primarily to support the activities of an exposition center, or a sports and entertainment arena, or sports and entertainment arena facilities, that serves a substantial statewide public purpose. An exposition center serves a substantial statewide public purpose if all of the following conditions are met: 1. Each sponsoring municipality of the district adopts a resolution that certifies that the exposition center meets all of the following conditions: a. The exposition center includes or will include an exhibition hall of at least 100,000 square feet. b. The exposition center is reasonably projected to support at least 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs. c. The exposition center is reasonably projected to stimulate at least $6,500,000,000 in total spending in the state over the 30-year period beginning on the date on which the bonds are issued. d. The exposition center is reasonably projected to attract at least 50,000 out-of-state visitors annually. e. The exposition center is reasonably projected to generate at least $150,000,000 of incremental state income, franchise and sales tax revenues over the 30-year period beginning on the date on which the bonds are issued. 2. Each sponsoring municipality sends a copy of the resolution adopted under subd. 1. to the secretary of administration and the secretary of revenue. 3. Neither the secretary of administration nor the secretary of revenue determines that a resolution provided under subd. 2. does not meet the conditions under subd. 1. If a secretary makes a determination under this subdivision, the secretary shall provide written notice of his or her determination and the reasons for his or her determination to each sponsoring municipality of the district within 30 days after receiving a copy of all resolutions under subd. 2. A determination under this subdivision is not subject to review under ch. 227, but sponsoring municipalities may resubmit resolutions under subd. 1. at any time after a secretary issues a determination under this subdivision. (b) Feasibility. The proceeds of bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used for feasible projects and there is a reasonable likelihood that the bonds will be repaid without the necessity of drawing on funds in the special debt service reserve fund that secures the bonds. The secretary of administration may not make the determinations required under this paragraph unless a majority of the authorized members of the district’s board has voted that, if the balance in a special debt service reserve fund of the district is less than the requirement under sub. (5), the room tax imposed by the district under s. 66.0615 (1m) (b) is 3 percent of total room charges and the food and beverages tax imposed by the district under s. 77.981 is 0.5 percent of gross receipts. In addition, the secretary of administration may make the determinations required under this paragraph only after considering all of the following: 1. Whether a pledge of the gross tax revenues of the district is made under the bond resolution. 2. Whether the tax revenues of the district will be paid directly to the trustee of the bonds. 3. Revenue projections for the projects to be financed by the bonds and the reasonableness of the assumptions on which these revenue projections are based. 4. The proposed interest rates of the bonds and the resulting cash-flow requirements. 5. Whether the projected ratio of annual tax revenues to annual debt service of the district, taking into account capitalized interest, is 135 percent or greater. 6. Whether an understanding exists providing for repayment by the district to the state of all amounts appropriated to the special debt service reserve fund pursuant to sub. (7). 7. Whether the district has agreed to provide the department of administration with all financial reports of the district and all regular monthly statements of the trustee of the bonds on a direct and ongoing basis. 8. Whether the district has agreed that the department of administration will have direct and immediate access, at any time and without notice, to all records of the district. (c) Limit on bonds issued. 1. The amount of all bonds, other than refunding bonds, that would be secured by all special debt service reserve funds of the district will not exceed $200,000,000. 2. On July 5, 2019, the amount specified in subd. 1. is increased by $100,000,000. (d) Use of net proceeds. 1. Not more than $170,000,000 of the total net proceeds of all bonds, other than refunding bonds, that would be secured by all special debt service reserve funds of the district will be used for the purposes specified under s. 229.48 (1) (a) to (c), except that no proceeds of the bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund may be used to remodel or refurbish an existing exposition center or existing exposition center facilities transferred under a transfer agreement under s. 229.47 (1). 2. On July 5, 2019, the amount specified in subd. 1. is increased by $127,500,000. (e) Date of issuance. The bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be issued no later than December 31, 2021. (f) Transfer agreement. A sponsoring municipality of the district issuing the bonds has entered into a transfer agreement under s. 229.47 (1) that transfers to the district the sponsoring municipality’s interests in an existing exposition center and exposition center facilities created under this subchapter or in an existing convention institution under s. 229.26. (g) Refunding bonds. All refunding bonds to be secured by the special debt service reserve fund meet all of the following conditions: 1. The refunding bonds are to be issued to fund, refund or advance refund bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. 2. The refunding of bonds by the refunding bonds was determined by the secretary of administration not to adversely affect the risk that the state will be called on to make a payment under sub. (7). (2) Payment of funds into a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall pay into each of these special debt service reserve funds any moneys appropriated and made available by the state for the purposes of the special debt service reserve fund, any proceeds of a sale of bonds to the extent provided in the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and any other moneys that are made available to the district for the purpose of the special debt service reserve fund from any other source. (3) Use of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund. All moneys held in any special debt service reserve fund of a district, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall be used, as required, solely for the payment of the principal of bonds secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, the making of sinking fund payments with respect to these bonds, the purchase or redemption of these bonds, the payment of interest on these bonds or the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid when these bonds are redeemed prior to maturity. If moneys in a special debt service reserve fund at any time are less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the debt service reserve fund, the district may not use these moneys for any optional purchase or optional redemption of the bonds. Any income or interest earned by, or increment to, any special debt service reserve fund due to the investment of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund may be transferred by the district to other funds or accounts of the district to the extent that the transfer does not reduce the amount of the special debt service reserve fund below the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (4) Limitation on bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall accumulate in each special debt service reserve fund an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. A district may not at any time issue bonds secured in whole or in part by a special debt service reserve fund if upon the issuance of these bonds the amount in the special debt service reserve fund will be less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund, unless the district, at the time that it issues the bonds, deposits in the special debt service reserve fund from the proceeds of the bond issuance, or from other sources, an amount that, together with the amount then in the special debt service reserve fund, will not be less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (5) Special debt service reserve fund requirement. The special debt service reserve fund requirement for a special debt service reserve fund, as of any particular date of computation, is equal to an amount of money, as provided in the bond resolution authorizing the bonds with respect to which the special debt service reserve fund is established, that may not exceed the maximum annual debt service on the bonds of the district for that fiscal year or any future fiscal year of the district secured in whole or in part by that special debt service reserve fund. In computing the annual debt service for any fiscal year, bonds deemed to have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall not be included in bonds outstanding on such date of computation. The annual debt service for any fiscal year is the amount of money equal to the aggregate of all of the following calculated on the assumption that the bonds will, after the date of computation, cease to be outstanding by reason, but only by reason, of the payment of bonds when due, and the payment when due, and application in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing those bonds, of all of the sinking fund payments payable at or after the date of computation: (a) All interest payable during the fiscal year on all bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund and that are outstanding on the date of computation. (b) The principal amount of all of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, are outstanding on the date of computation and mature during the fiscal year. (c) All amounts specified in bond resolutions of the district authorizing any of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund to be payable during the fiscal year as a sinking fund payment with respect to any of the bonds that mature after the fiscal year. (6) Valuation of securities. In computing the amount of a special debt service reserve fund for the purposes of this section, securities in which all or a portion of the special debt service reserve fund is invested shall be valued at their fair market value. (7) State moral obligation pledge. If at any time the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for a special debt service reserve fund exceeds the amount of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund, the board of directors of the district shall certify to the secretary of administration, the governor, the joint committee on finance and the governing body of the sponsoring municipality the amount necessary to restore the special debt service reserve fund to an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. If this certification is received by the secretary of administration in an even-numbered year prior to the completion of the budget compilation under s. 16.43, the secretary shall include the certified amount in the budget compilation. In any case, the joint committee on finance shall introduce in either house, in bill form, an appropriation of the amount so certified to the appropriate special debt service reserve fund of the district. Recognizing its moral obligation to do so, the legislature hereby expresses its expectation and aspiration that, if ever called upon to do so, it shall make this appropriation. This subsection does not apply to reserve fund shortfalls related to bonds or any refunding bonds issued by the district to fund the construction of sports and entertainment arena facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.52 Bonds not public debt

(1) The state and a sponsoring municipality are not liable on bonds and the bonds are not a debt of the state or a sponsoring municipality. All bonds shall contain a statement to this effect on the face of the bond. A bond issue does not, directly or indirectly or contingently, obligate the state or a political subdivision of the state to levy any tax or make any appropriation for payment of the bonds. (2) Nothing in this subchapter authorizes a district to create a debt of the state or a sponsoring municipality, and all bonds issued by a district are payable, and shall state that they are payable, solely from the funds pledged for their payment in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing their issuance or in any trust indenture or mortgage or deed of trust executed as security for the bonds. The state and a sponsoring municipality are not liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on a bond or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement that may be undertaken by a district. The breach of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement undertaken by a district does not impose pecuniary liability upon the state or a sponsoring municipality or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power.

Wis. Stat. § 229.53 State pledge

The state pledges to and agrees with the bondholders, and persons that enter into contracts with a district under this subchapter, that the state will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in a district by this subchapter, including the rights and powers under s. 229.44 (15), before the district has fully met and discharged the bonds, and any interest due on the bonds, and has fully performed its contracts, unless adequate provision is made by law for the protection of the bondholders or those entering into contracts with a district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.54 Responsibility to sports and entertainment arena facilities

(1) Neither the state, a sponsoring municipality, nor the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located is responsible for equipping, maintaining, operating, improving, and repairing sports and entertainment arena facilities. (2) The district is responsible only for equipping, maintaining, operating, improving, and repairing sports and entertainment arena facilities during the initial development and construction of the sports and entertainment arena facilities. If the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the non-relocation agreement or lease under s. 229.461, the district is responsible for equipping, maintaining, operating, and repairing sports and entertainment arena facilities during the remainder of the lease, but only from moneys received from the parent company of the professional basketball team, the professional basketball team, or its affiliate resulting from the breach of the non-relocation agreement or lease.

Wis. Stat. § 229.55 Trust funds

All moneys received under this subchapter, whether as proceeds from the sale of bonds or from any other source, are trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this subchapter. Any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, those moneys are deposited shall act as trustee of those moneys and shall hold and apply the moneys for the purposes of this subchapter, subject to this subchapter and the bond resolution authorizing issuance of the bonds.

Wis. Stat. § 229.56 Funding and refunding bonds

(1) A district may issue bonds to fund or refund any outstanding bond, including the payment of any redemption premium on the outstanding bond and any interest accrued or to accrue to the earliest or any subsequent date of redemption, purchase or maturity. (2) A district may apply the proceeds of the bonds issued to fund or refund any outstanding bond to the purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption of the outstanding bond either on its earliest or any subsequent redemption date or upon the purchase or at the maturity of the bond. A district may, pending application, place the proceeds in escrow to be applied to the purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption on any date the board of directors determines.

Wis. Stat. § 229.57 Budgets; rates and charges; audit

A district shall adopt a calendar year as its fiscal year for accounting purposes. The board of directors shall annually prepare a budget for the district. Rates and other charges received by the district shall be used for the general expenses and capital expenditures of the district and to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on bonds. The district shall maintain an accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall have its financial statements and debt covenants audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.

Wis. Stat. § 229.64 Legislative declaration

The legislature determines that the provision of assistance by state agencies to a district under this subchapter and any appropriation or grant of funds to a district serve a statewide public purpose by assisting the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of baseball park facilities in the state for providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by preserving business activities within the state, by generating additional tax revenues that would not exist without the baseball park facilities, by reducing unemployment, and by bringing needed capital into the state for the benefit and welfare of people throughout the state.

Wis. Stat. § 229.65 Definitions

In this subchapter: (1) “Baseball park facilities” means property, tangible or intangible, owned in whole or in substantial part, operated or leased by a district that is principally for the support or performance of professional baseball operations including parking lots, garages, restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment facilities and transportation facilities, and other functionally related or auxiliary facilities or structures. (2) “Bond” means any bond, note or other obligation issued under s. 66.0621 by a district. (3) “Bond resolution” means a resolution of the district board authorizing the issuance of, or providing terms and conditions related to, bonds and includes, where appropriate, any trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust providing terms and conditions for bonds. (4) “Chief executive officer” means the county executive of a county or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors. (5) “District” means a special district created under this subchapter. (6) “District board” means the governing board of a district. (6m) “Professional baseball team” means a baseball team that is a member of a league of professional baseball teams that have home stadiums approved by the league in at least 10 states and a collective average attendance for all league members of at least 10,000 persons per game over the 5 years immediately preceding December 7, 2023.

Wis. Stat. § 229.66 Creation and organization

(1) There is created, for each jurisdiction under s. 229.67, a special district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state, that has the powers under s. 229.68 and the name of which includes “Professional Baseball Park District”. (2) A district is governed by its district board. The district board may adopt bylaws to govern the district’s activities, subject to this subchapter. Subject to sub. (3), the district board shall consist of the following members: (a) A chairperson and 3 others, all of whom must be state residents, appointed by the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. (b) One person, who must be a state resident, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the chief executive officer of the county within the jurisdiction of the district, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. (bm) Three persons appointed by the majority leader of the senate, all of whom must be state residents. (cm) Three persons appointed by the speaker of the assembly, all of whom must be state residents. (g) One person, who must be a state resident, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the mayor of the 1st class city within the jurisdiction of the district or if that city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. (gm) One person, who must be a state resident and who may not be an employee of the state or of a professional baseball team that leases baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the professional baseball team. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. With respect to any of the following, a person appointed under this paragraph may not participate in any nonpublic meeting of the board or vote: 1. Approving or amending the lease specified in s. 229.6802 (1). 2. Approving or amending the nonrelocation agreement specified in s. 229.6802 (2). 3. Approving or amending a lease or sublease other than specified under subd. 1. or 2. between the district and the professional baseball team. 4. Obtaining or accepting a loan under s. 16.09 (5). 5. Retaining a 3rd-party negotiator under s. 229.6802 (3). 6. A dispute between the district and the professional baseball team. (3) (a) Upon appointment under sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. (b) The terms of office of the district board members are as follows: 1. For the chairperson and other persons appointed under sub. (2) (a), 4 years, except that the initial term of office for the initial chairperson appointee and one of the 3 other initial appointees, as designated by the governor, is 2 years. 2. For the persons appointed under sub. (2) (bm) and (cm), 4 years, except that the initial term of office of one of the 3 initial appointees under each of those paragraphs is 2 years, as designated by the appointing authority. 3. For the persons appointed under sub. (2) (b), (g), and (gm), 4 years. (c) Notwithstanding s. 17.07 (3), persons appointed under sub. (2) may be removed from the district board by the appointing authority at pleasure. (d) 1. Vacancies for persons appointed under sub. (2) shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant using the procedure provided under sub. (2) for that position. 2. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under subd. 1. shall serve for the remainder of the term to which he or she is appointed. (4) The governor shall select the chairperson of the district board and the district board shall elect from its membership a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. Unless otherwise provided by law, the district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those directors who are present at a meeting of the district board. Except in the case of exigent or emergency circumstances that make an in-person meeting impracticable, all meetings of the district board shall be in person. (5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. (6) Upon the appointment and qualification of a majority of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter. (7) At its first meeting the district board shall name the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.67 Jurisdiction

A district’s jurisdiction is any county with a population of more than 750,000 that is the site of baseball park facilities that are home to a professional baseball team. A district’s jurisdiction is fixed even if the population of the county decreases below 750,001.

Wis. Stat. § 229.68 Powers of a district

A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. The district may not incur costs or any obligations for signage related to a change in naming rights for the baseball park facilities. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following: (1) Adopt and alter an official seal. (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded. (3) Maintain an office. (4) In connection with baseball park facilities: (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the baseball park facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise, or engage other persons to do these things. (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; authorize the sublease of; use; or transfer property; except that the district may not enter into any lease or sublease that does not receive the affirmative vote of a majority of all current members appointed to the district board and eligible to vote on the matter. (c) Improve real property. (d) Enter into contracts, subject to this paragraph and such standards as may be established by the district board, which standards may include approval by a professional baseball team pursuant to the terms of a lease with the district. For a contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $200,000, the district shall issue a request for proposals or other procurement document to solicit proposals. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates. In awarding a contract, the district board shall consider price; time for completion of work; qualifications and past performance of a contractor; contractor responsiveness; contractor eligibility in accordance with any request for proposals or other procurement document; the results of applicable inspections and tests; and performance standards established by the board, including with respect to quality and workmanship. The district shall determine the most advantageous proposal from a responsible and responsive offeror taking into consideration only the factors under this paragraph and the evaluation criteria set forth in any request for proposals or other procurement document. The district shall award the contract by written notice to the selected offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the request for proposals or other procurement document. (e) Grant concessions. (f) Make a grant of land or other property to the state, especially dedicated by the grant to use for a professional baseball park. (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan. (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance. (7) Subject to s. 229.682 (10), mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber the district’s property or funds. (8) Issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.72 to 229.79, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements, except that the district may issue bonds under this subsection only if all of the following conditions are met: (a) A supermajority of the district board vote in favor of issuing bonds. (b) A majority of the members of the district board determines, based on the best available information, that the total cost of the initial construction of baseball park facilities does not exceed $250,000,000. (c) A majority of the members of the district board determines that the district’s lease arrangement with the professional baseball team franchise that uses baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities incorporates a term of at least 30 years. (d) The bonds are issued before December 7, 2023. (8m) Obtain loans under s. 16.09 (5) for purposes described under s. 229.687 (2). Any moneys borrowed or accepted under this subsection shall be deposited into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate. After December 7, 2023, to the extent feasible, a district shall contract with the investment board to invest funds held in trust under this subchapter. (12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, the baseball park facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order. (13) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of the baseball park facilities or for services rendered by the district. (14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district’s purposes. (16) Subject to s. 229.682 (10) accept gifts, loans, grants, and other aid, which may be used only for the following purposes: (a) Retiring bonds or other debt used to develop, construct, improve, repair, or maintain baseball park facilities. (b) Maintaining the baseball park facilities. (c) Operating the baseball park facilities. (d) Making capital improvements to the baseball park facilities. (17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.69 Powers granted to a city or a county in a district

In addition to any powers that it may otherwise have, a city or a county within a district’s jurisdiction may do any of the following: (1) Make grants or loans to a district upon terms that the city or county considers appropriate. (2) Expend public funds to subsidize a district. (3) Borrow money under ss. 67.04 and 67.12 (12) for baseball park facilities or to fund grants, loans or subsidies to a district. (4) Grant to the state land or other property, especially dedicated by the grant to use for baseball park facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.70 Minority contracting goals; disabled veteran-owned business contracting goals

(1) In this section: (ag) “Disabled veteran-owned business” means a business certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3). (am) “Minority business” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (e). (b) “Minority group member” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (f). (c) “Women’s business” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation that is at least 51 percent owned, controlled and actively managed by women. (2) The district shall ensure that, for construction work and professional services contracts, a person who is awarded such a contract by a district shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that his or her goal shall be to ensure that at least 25 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be minority group members, at least 1 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be employees of a disabled veteran-owned business, and at least 5 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be women if the contract is for the construction of any part of baseball park facilities. (3) It shall be a goal of the district to ensure that at least 25 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to minority businesses, at least 1 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to disabled veteran-owned businesses, and at least 5 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to women’s businesses: (a) Contracts for the construction of baseball park facilities. (b) Contracts for professional services related to the construction of baseball park facilities. (c) Contracts for the development of baseball park facilities. (4) It shall be a goal of a district, with regard to each of the contracts described under sub. (3) (a), (b) and (c), to award at least 25 percent of the dollar value of such contracts to minority businesses, at least 1 percent of the dollar value of such contracts to disabled veteran-owned businesses, and at least 5 percent of the dollar value of such contracts to women’s businesses. (4m) (a) The district shall ensure that, for construction work and professional services contracts, a person who is awarded such a contract by a district shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that if he or she is unable to meet the goal under sub. (2), he or she shall make a good faith effort to contract with the technical college district board of the technical college district in which the facilities are to be constructed or the professional services contract is to be performed, to develop appropriate training programs designed to increase the pool of minority group members, disabled veterans, and women who are qualified to perform the construction work or professional services. (b) If the district is unable to meet the goals under subs. (3) and (4), the district shall make a good faith effort to contract with the technical college district board of the technical college district in which the contracts described under sub. (3) (a), (b) and (c) are to be performed, to develop appropriate training programs designed to increase the pool of minority group members, disabled veterans, and women who are qualified to perform the contracts described under sub. (3) (a), (b) and (c). (5) (a) The district shall hire an independent person to monitor the district’s compliance with minority contracting goals under subs. (2), (3) and (4) and the department of administration’s compliance with minority contracting goals under s. 16.854 (2) and (3). The person hired shall have previous experience working with minority group members. The district shall develop a mechanism to receive regular reports from the person hired with respect to the results of the person’s studies of compliance with minority contracting goals. (b) If the district or a contractor is unable to meet the goals under sub. (2), (3) or (4), the person hired under par. (a) shall assess whether the district or contractor made a good faith effort to reach the goals. In determining whether a good faith effort was made to meet the goals, the person hired shall consider all of the following: 1. The supply of eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses that have the financial capacity, technical capacity and previous experience in the areas in which contracts were awarded. 2. The competing demands for the services provided by eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses, as described in subd. 1., in areas in which contracts were awarded. 3. The extent to which the district or contractors advertised for and aggressively solicited bids from eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses, as described in subd. 1., and the extent to which eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses submitted bids. (6) The district shall solicit from any major league baseball club to whom the district leases baseball park facilities its minority hiring goals in connection with the operation of a baseball stadium and its minority contracting goals in connection with vending contractors at a baseball stadium.

Wis. Stat. § 229.71 Dissolution of a district

Upon or after the expiration or termination of all lease arrangements between the district and a professional baseball team with respect to the baseball park facilities, and subject to providing for the payment of its bonds, including interest on the bonds, and the performance of its other contractual obligations, a district may be dissolved by the action of the district board. If the district is dissolved under this section or by action of the legislature, the property of the district shall be transferred to the state.

Wis. Stat. § 229.72 Issuance and negotiability of bonds

(1m) Negotiability. All bonds are negotiable for all purposes, notwithstanding their payment from a limited source. (2) Employment of financial consultant. A district may retain the building commission or any other person as its financial consultant to assist with and coordinate the issuance of bonds. (6) Liability. Neither the members of the district board nor any person executing the bonds is liable personally on the bonds or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, unless the personal liability or accountability is the result of willful misconduct.

Wis. Stat. § 229.74 Special debt service reserve funds

(1) Designation of special debt service reserve funds. A district may designate one or more accounts in funds created under s. 66.0621 (4) (e) as special debt service reserve funds, if, prior to each issuance of bonds to be secured by the special debt service reserve fund, the secretary of administration determines that all of the following conditions are met with respect to the bonds: (a) Purpose. The proceeds of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used for baseball park facilities. (b) Feasibility. The proceeds of bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used for feasible projects and there is a reasonable likelihood that the bonds will be repaid without the necessity of drawing on funds in the special debt service reserve fund that secures the bonds. The secretary of administration may make the determinations required under this paragraph only after considering all of the following: 1. Whether a pledge of the tax revenues of the district is made under the bond resolution. 2. How the tax revenues of the district are pledged to the payment of the bonds. 3. Revenue projections for the project to be financed by the bonds, including tax revenues, and the reasonableness of the assumptions on which these revenue projections are based. 4. The proposed interest rates of the bonds and the resulting cash-flow requirements. 5. The projected ratio of annual tax revenues to annual debt service of the district, taking into account capitalized interest. 6. Whether an understanding exists providing for repayment by the district to the state of all amounts appropriated to the special debt service reserve fund pursuant to sub. (7). 8. Whether the district has agreed that the department of administration will have direct and immediate access, at any time and without notice, to all records of the district. (c) Limit on bonds issued. The amount of all bonds, other than refunding bonds, that would be secured by all special debt service reserve funds of the district will not exceed $160,000,000. In determining compliance with the limitation under this paragraph, the secretary of administration need not include bonds that are secured by a special debt service reserve fund to the extent that proceeds of the bonds are for the following purposes: 1. To make a deposit into a special debt service reserve fund. 2. To pay issuance costs of bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. 3. To pay capitalized interest costs on bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. 4. To pay any original issue discount. (d) Date of issuance. The bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be issued no later than December 31, 2000. (e) Refunding bonds. All refunding bonds to be secured by the special debt service reserve fund meet all of the following conditions: 1. The refunding bonds are to be issued to fund, refund or advance refund bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. 2. The refunding of bonds by the refunding bonds will not adversely affect the risk that the state will be called on to make a payment under sub. (7). (f) Approval of outstanding debt. All outstanding debt of the district has been reviewed and approved by the secretary of administration. In determining whether to approve outstanding debt under this paragraph, the secretary may consider any factor which the secretary determines to have a bearing on whether the state moral obligation pledge under sub. (7) should be granted with respect to an issuance of bonds. (g) Financial reports. The district has agreed to provide to the department of administration, the legislative fiscal bureau and the legislative audit bureau all financial reports of the district and all regular monthly statements of any trustee of the bonds on a direct and ongoing basis. (2) Payment of funds into a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall pay into any special debt service reserve fund of the district any moneys appropriated and made available by the state for the purposes of the special debt service reserve fund, any proceeds of a sale of bonds to the extent provided in the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and any other moneys that are made available to the district for the purpose of the special debt service reserve fund from any other source. (3) Use of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund. All moneys held in any special debt service reserve fund of a district, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall be used, as required, solely for the payment of the principal of bonds secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, the making of sinking fund payments with respect to these bonds, the purchase or redemption of these bonds, the payment of interest on these bonds or the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid when these bonds are redeemed prior to maturity. If moneys in a special debt service reserve fund at any time are less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund, the district may not use these moneys for any optional purchase or optional redemption of the bonds. Any income or interest earned by, or increment to, any special debt service reserve fund due to the investment of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund may be transferred by the district to other funds or accounts of the district to the extent that the transfer does not reduce the amount of the special debt service reserve fund below the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (4) Limitation on bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall accumulate in each special debt service reserve fund an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. A district may not at any time issue bonds secured in whole or in part by a special debt service reserve fund if upon the issuance of these bonds the amount in the special debt service reserve fund will be less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (5) Special debt service reserve fund requirement. The special debt service reserve fund requirement for a special debt service reserve fund, as of any particular date of computation, is equal to an amount of money, as provided in the bond resolution authorizing the bonds with respect to which the special debt service reserve fund is established, that may not exceed the maximum annual debt service on the bonds of the district for that fiscal year or any future fiscal year of the district secured in whole or in part by that special debt service reserve fund. In computing the annual debt service for any fiscal year, bonds deemed to have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall not be included in bonds outstanding on such date of computation. The annual debt service for any fiscal year is the amount of money equal to the aggregate of all of the following calculated on the assumption that the bonds will, after the date of computation, cease to be outstanding by reason, but only by reason, of the payment of bonds when due, and the payment when due, and application in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing those bonds, of all of the sinking fund payments payable at or after the date of computation: (a) All interest payable during the fiscal year on all bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund and that are outstanding on the date of computation. (b) The principal amount of all of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, are outstanding on the date of computation and mature during the fiscal year. (c) All amounts specified in bond resolutions of the district authorizing any of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund to be payable during the fiscal year as a sinking fund payment with respect to any of the bonds that mature after the fiscal year. (6) Valuation of securities. In computing the amount of a special debt service reserve fund for the purposes of this section, securities in which all or a portion of the special debt service reserve fund is invested shall be valued at par, or, if purchased at less than par, at their cost to the district. (7) State moral obligation pledge. If at any time of valuation the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for a special debt service reserve fund exceeds the amount of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund, the district board shall certify to the secretary of administration, the governor, the joint committee on finance and the governing body of each county in the district the amount necessary to restore the special debt service reserve fund to an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. If this certification is received by the secretary of administration in an even-numbered year prior to the completion of the budget compilation under s. 16.43, the secretary shall include the certified amount in the budget compilation. In any case, the joint committee on finance shall introduce in either house, in bill form, an appropriation of the amount so certified to the appropriate special debt service reserve fund of the district. Recognizing its moral obligation to do so, the legislature hereby expresses its expectation and aspiration that, if ever called upon to do so, it shall make this appropriation. (8) Information to joint committee on finance. The district shall provide to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance information concerning the district’s projected cashflows and security features underlying each issuance of bonds under this subchapter.

Wis. Stat. § 229.75 Bonds not public debt

(1) The state and each county in the district’s jurisdiction are not liable on bonds and the bonds are not a debt of the state or any county in the district. All bonds shall contain a statement to this effect on the face of the bond. A bond issue does not, directly or indirectly or contingently, obligate the state or a political subdivision of the state to levy any tax or make any appropriation for payment of the bonds. (2) Nothing in this subchapter authorizes a district to create a debt of the state or a county in the district’s jurisdiction, and all bonds issued by a district are payable, and shall state that they are payable, solely from the funds pledged for their payment in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing their issuance or in any trust indenture or mortgage or deed of trust executed as security for the bonds. The state and each county in the district’s jurisdiction are not liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on a bond or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement that may be undertaken by a district. The breach of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement undertaken by a district does not impose pecuniary liability upon the state or a county in the district’s jurisdiction or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power. (3) Bonds issued by the district shall be secured only by the district’s interest in any baseball park facilities, including any interest in a lease with the department of administration under s. 16.82 (7); by income from these facilities; by proceeds of bonds issued by the district and other amounts placed in a special redemption fund and investment earnings on these amounts; and by the taxes imposed by the district under subch. V of ch. 77, 2021 stats. The district may not pledge its full faith and credit on the bonds and the bonds are not a liability of the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.76 State pledge

The state pledges to and agrees with the bondholders, and persons that enter into contracts with a district under this subchapter, that the state will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in a district by this subchapter, including the power to obtain a loan from the department of administration upon the request of the district under s. 16.09 (5), before the district has fully met and discharged the bonds, and any interest due on the bonds, and has fully performed its contracts, including any lease agreement with a professional baseball team with respect to baseball park facilities, unless adequate provision is made by law for the protection of the bondholders or those entering into contracts with a district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.77 Trust funds

Wis. Stat. § 229.79 Budgets; rates and charges; audit

A district shall adopt a calendar year as its fiscal year for accounting purposes. The district board shall annually prepare a budget for the district. Rates and other charges received by the district shall be used for the general expenses and capital expenditures of the district and to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on bonds. A district shall maintain an accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall have its financial statements and debt covenants audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.

Wis. Stat. § 229.80 Reporting

The district shall provide on an ongoing basis to the department of administration, the legislative fiscal bureau, and the legislative audit bureau project reports relating to all baseball park facilities and all financial reports of the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.81 Assistance by state agencies

(1) Definition. In this section, “state agency” has the meaning given in s. 20.001 (1). (2) Assistance with respect to granted land or property. All state agencies may provide assistance to a district if the district has entered into a lease agreement with the department of administration under s. 16.82 (7).

Wis. Stat. § 229.435 Certification of board members

Within 30 days following the expiration of terms as described in s. 229.42 (4e) (a), and upon the secretary of administration issuing the certification described in s. 229.42 (4e) (d), each person who may appoint members to a board of directors under s. 229.42 (4), (5) or (6) shall certify to the department of administration the names of the persons appointed to the board of directors under s. 229.42 (5) or (6) or, if the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the names of the persons appointed to the board of directors under s. 229.42 (4).

Wis. Stat. § 229.445 Ticket surcharge

The board of directors shall require the sponsor of an event held at a sports and entertainment arena to impose a $2 surcharge on each ticket that is sold to the event. The event sponsor shall forward to the board of directors any surcharges collected under this section. The board of directors shall submit 25 percent of the amount received under this section to the department of administration for deposit into the general fund and shall retain the remainder for the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.461 Development agreement, non-relocation agreement, lease

(1) A district shall enter into a development agreement with a professional basketball team or its affiliate to require the professional basketball team or affiliate to develop and construct sports and entertainment arena facilities that will be financed in part by the district and, subject to sub. (3) (d), leased to the professional basketball team or its affiliate as provided in this subchapter. Before a district may sign the development agreement, the secretary of administration shall certify that the professional basketball team or its affiliate has agreed to fund at least $250,000,000 to the development and construction of the sports and entertainment arena facilities. In addition, the professional basketball team or its affiliate must have entered into the non-relocation agreement under sub. (2) before the district may sign the development agreement. (2) In consideration of the district, this state, a sponsoring municipality, and the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located promising to commit $250,000,000 of financial assistance to the development and construction of the sports and entertainment arena facilities and granting a professional basketball team, or its affiliate, the right to operate and manage the sports and entertainment arena facilities, the professional basketball team shall enter into a non-relocation agreement with the district, before it or its affiliate enters into a development agreement with the district under sub. (1), that contains all of the following provisions and commitments during the term of the lease: (a) The professional basketball team shall play substantially all of its home games at the sports and entertainment arena, once it is constructed. (b) The professional basketball team shall maintain its membership in the National Basketball Association or a successor league. (c) The professional basketball team shall maintain its headquarters in this state. (d) The professional basketball team shall maintain in its official team name the name of the sponsoring municipality. (e) The professional basketball team shall not relocate to another political subdivision during the term of the lease. (f) If the professional basketball team is sold or ownership is transferred to another person, the professional basketball team shall ensure that any person who acquires the professional basketball team, including upon foreclosure, commits to acquire the professional basketball team subject to the team’s obligations under the non-relocation agreement. (g) During the last 5 years of the original 30-year lease, and during any 5-year extension of the lease, the professional basketball team may negotiate, and enter into agreements, with 3rd parties regarding the professional basketball team playing its home games at a site different from the site to which the lease applies after the conclusion of the lease. (3) The lease between the district and the professional basketball team or its affiliate shall contain at least all of the following: (a) The term of the lease shall be for 30 years, plus 2 extensions of 5 years each, both extensions at the professional basketball team’s or its affiliate’s option. (b) The lease shall contain provisions concerning the transfer of the Bradley Center and the land on which it is located from the district to the professional basketball team or its affiliate and, following that transfer, subsequent demolition of the Bradley Center arena structure, consistent with s. 229.47 (2) (c). The district shall convey fee title to the professional basketball team or its affiliate free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and obligations, except for easements or similar restrictions that do not include a monetary component. Provided that the Bradley Center arena structure is transferred as provided under this paragraph, the lease shall require the professional basketball team or its affiliate to pay for all costs related to the demolition of the Bradley Center arena structure. (c) The professional basketball team or its affiliate shall be responsible for equipping, maintaining, operating, improving, and repairing sports and entertainment arena facilities that are constructed pursuant to a development agreement entered into under sub. (1). If the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the development agreement or non-relocation agreement, the parent company of the professional basketball team shall be jointly and severally responsible with the professional basketball team or its affiliate for the costs of equipping, maintaining, operating, and repairing the sports and entertainment arena facilities during the term of the lease. In addition, the professional basketball team or its affiliate shall be entitled to receive all revenues, other than surcharges collected under s. 229.445, related to the operation or use of the sports and entertainment arena facilities, including, but not limited to, ticket revenues, licensing or user fees, sponsorship revenues, revenues generated from events that are held on the plaza that is part of the sports and entertainment arena facilities, revenues from the sale of food, beverages, merchandise, and parking, and revenues from naming rights. (d) The lease shall allow for a separate agreement between the sponsoring municipality and the professional basketball team or its affiliate that addresses the development and construction, leasing, operation, maintenance, and repair of a parking structure constructed as part of the sports and entertainment arena facilities and the ownership of and revenues from the parking structure. (4) (a) If the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the lease, the district may enforce the lease. (b) If the professional basketball team or its affiliate breaches the non-relocation agreement, the state, the district, the sponsoring municipality, and the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located may act individually or collectively to enforce the non-relocation agreement and, if they prevail, are entitled to all of the following: 1. Injunctive relief. 2. a. Liquidated damages from the parent company of the professional basketball team, the professional basketball team, or its affiliate in an amount equal to the outstanding balance of principal and accrued unpaid interest remaining on any debt issued or incurred by the district, this state, a sponsoring municipality, and the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located for the development and construction of the sports and entertainment arena facilities. b. If the professional basketball team or its affiliate, at the time of its breach of the non-relocation agreement, is also in breach of its obligations under the lease to equip, maintain, operate, and repair the sports and entertainment arena facilities, liquidated damages from the parent company of the professional basketball team, the professional basketball team, or its affiliate shall also include an amount equal to the cost of performing these obligations during the term of the lease. c. Liquidated damages awarded under this subdivision shall be apportioned among the district, this state, a sponsoring municipality, and the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located in proportion to that entity’s financial contributions towards the development and construction of the sports and entertainment arena facilities. (5) The secretary of administration, in his or her capacity as chairperson of the board of directors, shall negotiate the development agreement, the lease, and the non-relocation agreement under this section on behalf of the district and may enter into any such development agreement, non-relocation agreement, or lease without the approval of the board of directors. Any subsequent amendments to, or renewal or extensions of, the development agreement, the non-relocation agreement, or the lease shall require the approval of the board of directors.

Wis. Stat. § 229.477 Dissolution of a district

Subject to providing for the payment of its bonds, including interest on the bonds, and the performance of its other contractual obligations, a district may be dissolved by the joint action of the district’s board of directors and sponsoring municipality. If the district is dissolved, the property of the district that does not include sports and entertainment arena facilities shall be transferred to its sponsoring municipality. Subject to the terms of any lease under s. 229.461 (3), the property of the district that does include sports and entertainment arena facilities shall be transferred to the local units of government that compose the district’s jurisdiction in such proportions as the secretary of administration determines fairly and reasonably represent the contributions of each local unit of government to the development, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of the property that contains sports and entertainment arena facilities. If the district was created by more than one sponsoring municipality, the municipalities shall agree on the apportioning of the district’s property before the district may be dissolved.

Wis. Stat. § 229.682 Special provisions

(1) Gifts and donations. The district board shall explore and consider ways to solicit and encourage gifts and donations for the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of baseball park facilities and, to the extent feasible, implement means to solicit such gifts and donations. (4) Special ticket provisions. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall annually designate at least one of the team’s home games in each of April, May, June, July, August, and September as a discount ticket day for which residents of the state may purchase discounted admission tickets. (6) Use of stadium. The district board shall consider during the design review process the utilization of the facility for events in addition to baseball, which are consistent with the program statement and design for the stadium complex, and do not adversely affect the design, construction schedule or budget. (7) Youth sports organizations. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall make an annual contribution of at least $40,000 to youth sports organizations in this state for the purchase of equipment or the rental or maintenance of athletic facilities that are used by such organizations. The contributions that are required under this subsection may be made in cash or equipment. (8) Special rental payments. If a district board enters into a lease agreement with a professional baseball team for the rental of baseball park facilities under this subchapter, the lease agreement shall include all of the following: (a) A provision requiring lessees of sky boxes located in the facilities to pay to the team an amount equivalent to the combined sales tax rates in the jurisdictions in which the facilities are located multiplied by the total of all payments for the rental of the sky boxes. (b) A provision requiring the team to include amounts received under par. (a) as part of its rental payment to the district. (9) Capital spending limitations. After 2045, the district may not initiate any capital project that has an expected life span that exceeds the remaining term of the lease arrangement with a professional baseball team with respect to the district’s baseball park facilities. This subsection does not restrict any of the following capital spending: (a) An amount that does not exceed the amount of the professional baseball team’s deposits under s. 229.6802 (1) (b) and (c) after 2045 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. (b) For purposes related to maintaining the safety of the baseball park facilities or the improvement, repair, maintenance, or replacement of the components and systems necessary to operate the baseball park facilities or to comply with applicable law, insurance requirements, or standards imposed by the professional baseball league of which the professional baseball team is a member. (10) Borrowing limitations. After December 7, 2023, the district may not borrow moneys except as provided under s. 229.68 (8m). Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, nothing in this subsection precludes the district from entering into long-term performance or service contracts, capital leases, lease purchase agreements utilizing 3rd-party financing, or similar arrangements with respect to the equipping, repair, maintenance, or improvement of baseball park facilities. (11) Bonding limitations. Except as provided in s. 229.68 (8), the district may not issue bonds. (12) Ticket surcharge. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the district board shall require that the sponsor of an event held at the baseball park facilities of the district, other than a baseball game involving a professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field, or an exhibition, “All Star,” or other similar event involving professional baseball teams or representatives of other professional baseball teams that are members of the same league as the professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field, impose the following ticket surcharges and deliver the surcharge moneys to the district board: 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., for each ticket that is sold to the event: a. From 2024 to 2032, a $2 surcharge. b. From 2033 to 2041, a $3 surcharge. c. From 2042 to 2050, a $4 surcharge. 2. For each ticket sold that entitles the holder to access a stadium luxury box or suite: a. From 2024 to 2032, an $8 surcharge. b. From 2033 to 2041, a $9 surcharge. c. From 2042 to 2050, a $10 surcharge. (b) No ticket surcharge under par. (a) may be charged for any of the following categories of events: 1. Events for which the sponsor is a professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field. 2. Events that are not ticketed. 3. Events for which tickets are provided at no charge. 4. Events held to benefit or honor military or law enforcement or other emergency response personnel. 5. Political conventions. 6. Charitable events. 7. Events for which tickets were made available for presale or sale before December 7, 2023. (c) The district board shall deposit all surcharge moneys received under par. (a) into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. (d) Annually, the district board shall certify to the secretary of administration the amount of surcharge moneys received under par. (a) in the preceding year.

Wis. Stat. § 229.685 Special fund tax revenues

(1) The district board shall maintain a special fund into which it deposits only the revenue received from the department of revenue, that is derived from the taxes imposed under subch. V of ch. 77, 2021 stats., and may use this revenue only for purposes related to baseball park facilities. (2) If the district board determines that the revenues in the special fund under this section exceed current operating expenses for the operation of baseball park facilities, the district board shall apply the excess to either fund a fund for maintenance costs and capital improvements or to retire bonds issued for the initial construction of baseball park facilities, and any bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds, prior to their maturity. As soon as practicable after the retirement of all bonds issued for the initial construction of baseball park facilities and all bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds and after funding a fund for maintenance costs and capital improvements sufficiently to meet any maintenance or capital improvement obligations between the district and any professional baseball team using baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as a home stadium, the district board shall make a certification to the department of revenue and the department of transportation to that effect. (3) Annually, the district board shall transfer from a fund funded under sub. (2) to the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 not less than all of the following amounts: (a) Through 2039, $2,200,000. (b) The amount deposited under s. 20.395 (5) (ij).

Wis. Stat. § 229.687 Baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund

(1) The district shall establish and maintain a baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund. The fund shall consist of all of the following: (a) Moneys borrowed or accepted and deposited under s. 229.68 (8m). (b) Moneys transferred from other district funds under s. 229.685 (3). (c) Moneys deposited by a county under s. 229.695 and payments made by the department of administration under s. 79.037 (4). (cm) Moneys received from the department of revenue under s. 77.76 (3s) (a). (d) Moneys received from the department of administration under s. 16.09. (e) Payments required to be deposited by a professional baseball team under a lease agreement, as specified in s. 229.6802 (1) (b) and (c), and the moneys required to be deposited by the district under s. 229.6802 (1) (d). (f) All income or interest earned by the investment of moneys of the fund. (g) Ticket surcharge receipts deposited under s. 229.682 (12) (c). (2) (a) Subject to par. (b), the district may use moneys deposited into the fund under sub. (1) only for the following purposes: 1. The development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of baseball park facilities. 2. The district’s performance of obligations under any lease with a professional baseball team with respect to baseball park facilities. 3. Repayment of loans or moneys accepted under s. 229.68 (8m). 4. The district’s retention of a 3rd-party negotiator under s. 229.6802 (3). 5. After 2030, payment of annual insurance premiums with respect to the ballpark facilities upon the affirmative vote of the district board and solely to the extent that the district board determines that funds held by the district in accounts, other than the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under this section, are insufficient to pay the premium in full. (am) Notwithstanding par. (a), annually on March 3, beginning in the year after the district receives a notification under s. 16.09 (3) (c) 6., the board shall pay from the fund under sub. (1) to the secretary of administration for deposit into the general fund an amount equal to the amount of surcharge moneys received under s. 229.682 (12) (a) in the preceding year. (b) The district may not use moneys deposited into the fund under sub. (1) for the development, construction, improvement, repair, or maintenance of any physical structure that was not owned, in whole or in part, operated, or leased by the district on December 7, 2023. (3) If, for any reason, the professional baseball team notifies the district that the team intends to terminate the lease agreement or the lease is otherwise terminated, no moneys deposited into the fund under sub. (1) may be expended with respect to the baseball park facilities after the date the district receives that notice, except any of the following: (a) Moneys encumbered before receipt of the notice of termination. (b) Moneys expended to maintain the safety of the baseball park facilities or for the improvement, repair, maintenance, or replacement of the components and systems necessary to operate the baseball park facilities or comply with applicable law, insurance requirements, or standards imposed by the professional baseball league of which the professional baseball team is a member. (c) Moneys expended to make interest payments and principal repayments of loans accepted under s. 229.68 (8m). (d) An amount of moneys that does not exceed the amount of the professional baseball team’s deposits into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.6802 (1) (b) and (c) between the date of any notice of lease termination and the effective date of the termination.

Wis. Stat. § 229.695 County obligations

Beginning in 2024, annually, no later than July 1, a county within a district’s jurisdiction shall deposit $2,500,000 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. This section does not apply after December 31, 2050, or after the aggregate amount of deposits under this section equals $67,500,000, whichever is earlier.

Wis. Stat. § 229.805 Redevelopment report

The district, in consultation with each 1st class city and county within the district’s jurisdiction and the professional baseball team that leases baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities, shall study the feasibility of, and options for, the redevelopment of baseball park facilities of the district other than a baseball stadium and, not later than 2 years after December 7, 2023, prepare a report summarizing the findings of the study. The redevelopment report shall contain a recommendation supporting or opposing a potential payment in lieu of general property taxes for any development of the baseball park facilities of the district other than a baseball stadium.

Wis. Stat. § 229.820 Legislative declaration

(1) The legislature determines that the provision of assistance by state agencies to a district under this subchapter, any appropriation of funds to a district under this subchapter and the moral obligation pledge under s. 229.830 (7) serve a statewide public purpose by assisting the development of professional football stadium facilities in the state for providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the state for the benefit and welfare of people throughout the state. The legislature determines that the taxes that may be imposed by a district under subch. V of ch. 77 are special taxes that are generated apart from any direct annual tax on taxable property. (2) The legislature determines that a district serves a public purpose in the district’s jurisdiction by providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the district’s jurisdiction for the benefit of people in the district’s jurisdiction.

Wis. Stat. § 229.821 Definitions

In this subchapter: (1) “Bond” means any bond, note, or other obligation issued under s. 66.0621 by a district. (2) “Bond resolution” means a resolution of the district board authorizing the issuance of, or providing terms and conditions related to, bonds and includes, where appropriate, any trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust providing terms and conditions for bonds. (3) “Chief elected official” means the mayor of a city or, if the city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, the village president of a village, the town board chair of a town or the county executive of a county or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors. (4) “District” means a special purpose district created under this subchapter. (5) “District board” means the governing board of a district. (6) “Football stadium” means a stadium that is principally used as the home stadium of a professional football team described in s. 229.823 at the time that a district is created, or if no home stadium exists at the time that a district is created, “football stadium” means a stadium that includes the site of a proposed home stadium of such a team. (7) “Football stadium facilities” means football stadium property, tangible or intangible, including spectator seating of all types, practice facilities, parking lots and structures, garages, restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment facilities, facilities for the display or sale of memorabilia, transportation facilities, and other functionally related or auxiliary facilities or structures. (8) “Home stadium” means a stadium approved as provided in s. 229.823. (9) “Members-elect” means those members of the governing body of a municipality or county, at a particular time, who have been duly elected or appointed for a current regular or unexpired term and whose service has not terminated by death, resignation or removal from office. (10) “Municipality” means a city, village or town. (11) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town or county. (12) “Related party” means a corporation or business entity that is owned, controlled or operated by, or under common control with, a professional football team.

Wis. Stat. § 229.822 Creation and organization

(1) There is created, for each jurisdiction under s. 229.823, a special district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state and the political subdivisions within its jurisdiction, that has the powers under s. 229.824 and the name of which includes “Professional Football Stadium District”. (2) A district is governed by its district board. Subject to sub. (3), the district board shall consist of the following members who shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the creation of a district: (a) Three persons appointed by the chief elected official of the most populous city located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district. A person appointed under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the common council or council. (b) Three persons appointed by the chief elected official of the county in which the football stadium is located. A person appointed under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the county board. (c) One person appointed by the chief elected official of any municipality located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district, other than the most populous city located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district, that has a boundary at the time of creation of the district that is contiguous to a boundary of the site of the football stadium. A person appointed under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the governing body of the municipality. (3) Upon appointment under sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. The terms of office of the persons appointed under sub. (2) shall be 2 years expiring on July 1, except that the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 4th year beginning after the year of creation of a district. Persons appointed under sub. (2) serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities, and may be removed before the expiration of their terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under sub. (2) shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term to which he or she is appointed unless removed at an earlier time. The appointing authorities shall confer with one another regarding their appointments with a view toward achieving diversity on the district board. (4) (a) The district board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. The secretary shall act as clerk of the district. (b) A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. The district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those members of the district board who are present at a meeting of the district board. (5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. (6) Upon the appointment and qualification of a majority of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter. (7) The district board shall name the district, and the name shall include “Professional Football Stadium District”.

Wis. Stat. § 229.823 Jurisdiction

A district’s jurisdiction is any county with a population at the date of the district’s creation of more than 150,000 that includes the principal site of a stadium that is home to a professional football team, that is a member of a league of professional football teams that have home stadiums in at least 10 states and a collective average attendance for all league members of at least 40,000 persons per game over the 5 years immediately preceding the year in which a district is created, and that is approved by that league for use as a home stadium for that professional football team. Once created, the district’s jurisdiction remains fixed even if population or attendance figures subsequently decline below the minimums described in this section.

Wis. Stat. § 229.824 Powers of a district

A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following: (1) Adopt bylaws to govern the district’s activities, subject to this subchapter. (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded. (3) Maintain an office. (4) In connection with football stadium facilities: (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the football stadium facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise, or engage other persons to do these things. (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; transfer; or accept transfers of property. (c) Improve, maintain and repair property, and fund reserves for maintenance, depreciation and capital improvements. Reserves for depreciation and capital improvements may not be created in the special fund maintained under s. 229.825 (1) or the fund established under s. 229.8257. (d) Enter into contracts, subject to such standards as may be established by the district board. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates and may consider any factors in awarding a contract, including price, time for completion of work and qualifications and past performance of a contractor. (e) Grant concessions. (f) Sell or otherwise dispose of unneeded or unwanted property. (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan. (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance. (7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district’s property or funds. (8) Subject to s. 229.8245, issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.829 to 229.834, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements, and currency exchange agreements. (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate. (10) Promote, advertise and publicize its football stadium facilities and related activities. (11) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its football stadium facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order. (12) Establish and collect fees or other charges for the use of its football stadium facilities or for services rendered by the district. (13) Establish and collect fees or other charges for the right to purchase admission to events at the football stadium if the proceeds from any amount that is collected under this subsection are used for purposes related to football stadium facilities. (14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district’s purposes. (15) Impose, by the adoption of a resolution, the taxes under subch. V of ch. 77, except that the taxes imposed by the resolution may not take effect until the resolution is approved by a majority of the electors in the district’s jurisdiction voting on the resolution at a referendum, to be held at the first spring primary or partisan primary following by at least 45 days the date of adoption of the resolution. Two questions shall appear on the ballot. The first question shall be: “Shall a sales tax and a use tax be imposed at the rate of 0.5 percent in .... County for purposes related to football stadium facilities in the .... Professional Football Stadium District?” The 2nd question shall be: “Shall excess revenues from the 0.5 percent sales tax and use tax be permitted to be used for property tax relief purposes in .... County?” Approval of the first question constitutes approval of the resolution of the district board. Approval of the 2nd question is not effective unless the first question is approved. The clerk of the district shall publish the notices required under s. 10.06 (4) (c), (f) and (i) for any referendum held under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 10.06 (4) (c), the type A notice under s. 10.01 (2) (a) relating to the referendum is valid even if given and published late as long as it is given and published prior to the election as early as practicable. A district may not levy any taxes that are not expressly authorized under subch. V of ch. 77. The district may not levy any taxes until the professional football team and the governing body of the municipality in which the football stadium facilities are located agree on how to fund the maintenance of the football stadium facilities. The district may not levy any taxes until the professional football team and the governing body of the municipality in which the football stadium facilities are located agree on how to distribute the proceeds, if any, from the sale of naming rights related to the football stadium facilities. If a district board adopts a resolution that imposes taxes and the resolution is approved by the electors, the district shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before its effective date. If a district board adopts a resolution that imposes taxes and the resolution is not approved by the electors, the district is dissolved. (16) Accept gifts, loans and other aid. (17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district. (18) Adopt and alter an official seal. (19) Subject to the limitation in this subsection, sell engraved tiles or bricks, which may be placed in or around football stadium facilities. The net proceeds from the sale of engraved tiles or bricks shall be deposited by the district into the fund under s. 229.8257. No tiles or bricks may be sold under this subsection if the net proceeds from such sales would exceed the amount that would jeopardize the federal tax-exempt status of the bonds.

Wis. Stat. § 229.825 Special fund tax revenues

(1) The district board shall maintain a special fund into which it deposits all of the revenue received from the department of revenue, that is derived from the taxes imposed under subch. V of ch. 77, and may use this revenue only for the purposes specified in sub. (2). The district may not deposit any other moneys into the special fund, except that the district shall credit all earnings on the revenues in the special fund to the special fund. The earnings on the revenues shall be used only for the purposes specified in sub. (2). (2) The district shall first use the revenues in the special fund maintained under sub. (1) for the payment of current debt service on bonds issued by the district for purposes related to football stadium facilities. If the revenues in the special fund in any year exceed the amount required to pay current debt service on bonds issued by the district for purposes related to football stadium facilities, the district shall apply the excess revenues for the following purposes in the following order: (ae) If a county located within a district’s jurisdiction uses the proceeds from a loan obtained by the county from the board of commissioners of public lands under s. 24.61 (3) (a) 2. for purposes related to the acquisition, renovation or construction of football stadium facilities and if the county and district enter into an agreement under s. 229.827 (3), the district shall pay the county in each year an amount equal to the principal and interest costs incurred by the county for the loan in that year. (am) Beginning in the year that occurs immediately after the year in which the tax is first imposed under s. 77.706, an amount equal to not more than $750,000 may be used to pay the district board’s administration expenses. In the succeeding year, an amount equal to not more than $500,000 may be used to pay the district board’s administration expenses. In the 2nd succeeding year, and each year thereafter, an amount equal to not more than $100,000 may be used to pay the district board’s administration expenses. The amount authorized to be expended under this paragraph may be expended annually until the earlier of the following: 1. January 1 of the 30th year beginning after the initial year in which the revenues are first used to pay the district board’s administration expenses. 2. The year in which the district board determines that the balance of moneys in the reserve created under par. (d) 2. or (e) 2., whichever is applicable, plus all projected earnings on the moneys, are sufficient to pay the district board’s administration expenses through the time specified under subd. 1. (b) 1. Beginning in the 3rd year that occurs immediately after the year in which the tax is first imposed under s. 77.706, an amount equal to $3,400,000 less the sum of the amounts specified in s. 229.8257 (2) (a) to (d) shall be used to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities. The payments shall be made annually until the earlier of the following: a. January 1 of the 28th year beginning after the initial year in which the revenues are first used to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities. b. The year in which the district board determines that the balance of moneys in the fund established under s. 229.8257, plus all projected earnings on the moneys, are sufficient to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities in the amounts specified in subd. 1. (intro.), as affected by any adjustment under subd. 2., through the time specified under subd. 1. a. 2. The portion of the $3,400,000 amount under subd. 1. that is used to pay any compensation for any employees of a municipality that provides maintenance or operating services for the football stadium facilities may be increased each year thereafter by not more than 3 percent. All other portions of this amount may be increased each year thereafter by not more than 2 percent. (d) If the 2nd question under s. 229.824 (15) is approved by the electors, the district shall pay the remainder to the county that is in the district’s jurisdiction for the purpose of directly reducing the county’s property tax levy or, if the county board otherwise requires, the district shall use any portion of the remainder for the following purposes: 1. To retire bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities, and any bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds, prior to their maturity. 2. To fully fund the fund established under s. 229.8257 to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities specified under par. (b) 1. b. and to establish a reserve to pay the district board’s administration expenses specified in par. (am), but only after all bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities and all bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds are retired or have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and after the district is no longer required to make the payments to a county under par. (ae). (e) If the 2nd question under s. 229.824 (15) is not approved by the electors, the district shall use the remainder for the following purposes: 1. To retire bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities, and any bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds, prior to their maturity. 2. To fully fund the fund established under s. 229.8257 to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities specified under par. (b) 1. b. and to establish a reserve to pay the district board’s administration expenses specified in par. (am), but only after all bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities and all bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds are retired or have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and after the district is no longer required to make the payments to a county under par. (ae). (3) Subject to sub. (4), the district board shall do all of the following: (a) As soon as practicable after all bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities and all bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds are retired or have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, the district board shall make a certification to the department of revenue to that effect. (b) As soon as practicable after fully funding the reserves established under sub. (2) (d) 2. or (e) 2., whichever is applicable, and the fund established under s. 229.8257, the district board shall make a certification to the department of revenue to that effect. (4) If the county board determines that the bonds described in sub. (3) (a) have been retired or paid as described in sub. (3) (a) and if the district board has not made the certification to the department of revenue as described in sub. (3) (a), the county board may require the district board to make that certification to the department of revenue and the district board shall immediately do so.

Wis. Stat. § 229.826 Powers granted to a municipality or county

In addition to any powers that it may otherwise have, a county or municipality located wholly or partly within a district’s jurisdiction may do any of the following: (1) Make grants or loans to a district upon terms that the county or municipality considers appropriate. (2) Expend public funds to subsidize a district. (3) Borrow money under ss. 67.04 and 67.12 (12) for football stadium facilities or to fund grants, loans or subsidies to a district. (4) Lease or transfer property to a district upon terms that the county or municipality considers appropriate. (5) With the consent of a district, establish and collect fees or other charges applicable only to a football stadium for the right to purchase admission to events at the stadium, if the proceeds from any amount that is collected under this subsection are used for purposes related to football stadium facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.827 Contracting

(1) Unless a district board determines that it is not feasible to do so, the district shall enter into a contract with a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, or a related party, that requires the team or related party to acquire, construct or renovate football stadium facilities that are part of any facilities that are leased by the district to the team or to a related party, without regard to whether the football stadium facilities are financed by the district. (2) Unless otherwise provided in an agreement with a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, the district shall be responsible only for the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities up to an amount that is in the fund established under s. 229.8257 plus the amounts applied under s. 229.825 (2) (b). (3) A district and the county located within a district’s jurisdiction may enter into an agreement in which the county agrees to use the proceeds from a loan obtained by the county from the board of commissioners of public lands under s. 24.61 (3) (a) 2. for purposes related to the acquisition, renovation or construction of football stadium facilities and the district agrees to pay the county the amount required to be paid under s. 229.825 (2) (ae). Before entering into an agreement under this subsection, the district board shall consider the relative costs to taxpayers in the county of using the proceeds from the loans obtained by the county from the board of commissioners of public lands or having the district issue bonds for the purpose of acquiring, renovating or constructing the football stadium facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.828 Dissolution of a district

Subject to providing for the payment of its bonds, including interest on the bonds, and the performance of its other contractual obligations, a district may be dissolved by the action of the district board. If a district board adopts a resolution that imposes taxes and the resolution is not approved by the electors, as described in s. 229.824 (15), the district is dissolved. If the district is dissolved, the property of the district shall be transferred to the political subdivisions that compose the district’s jurisdiction in such proportions as the secretary of administration determines fairly and reasonably represent the contributions of each political subdivision to the development or improvement of the football stadium facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.829 Issuance and negotiability of bonds

(1) Negotiability. All bonds are negotiable for all purposes, notwithstanding their payment from a limited source. (2) Employment of financial consultant. A district may retain the building commission or any other person as its financial consultant to assist with and coordinate the issuance of bonds. (3) No personal liability. Neither the members of the district board nor any person executing the bonds is liable personally on the bonds or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, unless the personal liability or accountability is the result of willful misconduct. (4) Limit on bonds. (a) Except as provided in par. (c), the principal amount of bonds, other than refunding bonds, that are issued by a district may not exceed $160,000,000. The limitation under this subsection does not include the principal amount of any bonds that are to be used for any of the following purposes: 1. To pay issuance costs of the bonds. 2. To pay any original issue discount. 3. To make a deposit into a debt service reserve fund. 4. To pay costs of credit enhancement. (b) Between the time of the first issuance of bonds and the end of the 3rd year that occurs immediately after the year in which the tax is first imposed under s. 77.706, there shall be set aside in a construction reserve fund the amount of $10,000,000 from funds raised pursuant to s. 229.826 (5). The investment earnings on the construction reserve fund shall be used to pay costs of constructing football stadium facilities. The corpus of the construction reserve fund shall be applied to the final costs of completing the football stadium facilities financed with bonds if and to the extent that the legislative audit bureau upon request of the district, or the district board upon the affirmative vote of at least 5 of its members, determines that such costs were necessary to complete the football stadium facilities as contemplated in the original agreement between the district and the football team or a related party under s. 229.827. Any balance in the construction reserve fund remaining following final completion and payment for the football stadium facilities shall be applied to the early retirement of bonds. (c) The principal amount of bonds, other than refunding bonds, that may be issued by a district under pars. (a) and (b) shall be reduced by the amount of any proceeds from a loan obtained by a county located within a district’s jurisdiction from the board of commissioners of public lands under s. 24.61 (3) (a) 2. that are used for purposes related to the acquisition, renovation or construction of football stadium facilities pursuant to an agreement under s. 229.827 (3). (5) Date of issuance. All bonds, other than refunding bonds, that are issued by a district shall be issued no later than December 31, 2004.

Wis. Stat. § 229.830 Special debt service reserve funds for moral obligation pledge

(1) Designation of special debt service reserve funds. A district may designate one or more accounts in funds created under s. 66.0621 (4) (e) as special debt service reserve funds, if, prior to each issuance of bonds to be secured by each special debt service reserve fund, the secretary of administration determines that all of the following conditions are met with respect to the bonds: (a) Purpose. The proceeds of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used for purposes related to football stadium facilities. (b) Feasibility. The proceeds of bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be used for feasible projects and there is a reasonable likelihood that the bonds will be repaid without the necessity of drawing on funds in the special debt service reserve fund that secures the bonds. The secretary of administration may make the determinations required under this paragraph only after considering all of the following: 1. Whether a pledge of the tax revenues of the district is made under the bond resolution. 2. How the tax revenues of the district are pledged to the payment of the bonds. 3. Revenue projections for the project to be financed by the bonds, including tax revenues, and the reasonableness of the assumptions on which these revenue projections are based. 4. The proposed interest rates of the bonds and the resulting cash-flow requirements. 5. The projected ratio of annual tax revenues to annual debt service of the district, taking into account capitalized interest. 6. Whether an understanding exists providing for repayment by the district to the state of all amounts appropriated to the special debt service reserve fund pursuant to sub. (7). 7. Whether the district has agreed that the department of administration will have direct and immediate access, at any time and without notice, to all records of the district. (c) Limit on bonds issued backed by moral obligation pledge. The principal amount of all bonds, other than refunding bonds, that would be secured by all special debt service reserve funds of the district will not exceed the amount of bonds, other than refunding bonds, that may be issued under s. 229.829 (4). (d) Date of issuance. The bonds, other than refunding bonds, will be issued no later than December 31, 2004. (e) Refunding bonds. All refunding bonds to be secured by the special debt service reserve fund meet all of the following conditions: 1. The refunding bonds are to be issued to fund, refund or advance refund bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. 2. The refunding of bonds by the refunding bonds will not adversely affect the risk that the state will be called on to make a payment under sub. (7). (f) Approval of outstanding debt. All outstanding debt of the district has been reviewed and approved by the secretary of administration. In determining whether to approve outstanding debt under this paragraph, the secretary may consider any factor which the secretary determines to have a bearing on whether the state moral obligation pledge under sub. (7) should be granted with respect to an issuance of bonds. (g) Financial reports. The district has agreed to provide to the department of administration, the legislative fiscal bureau and the legislative audit bureau all financial reports of the district and all regular monthly statements of any trustee of the bonds on a direct and ongoing basis. (2) Payment of funds into a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall pay into any special debt service reserve fund of the district any moneys appropriated and made available by the state under sub. (7) for the purposes of the special debt service reserve fund, any proceeds of a sale of bonds to the extent provided in the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and any other moneys that are made available to the district for the purpose of the special debt service reserve fund from any other source. (3) Use of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund. All moneys held in any special debt service reserve fund of a district, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall be used, as required, solely for the payment of the principal of bonds secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, the making of sinking fund payments with respect to these bonds, the purchase or redemption of these bonds, the payment of interest on these bonds or the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid when these bonds are redeemed prior to maturity. If moneys in a special debt service reserve fund at any time are less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund, the district may not use these moneys for any optional purchase or optional redemption of the bonds. Any income or interest earned by, or increment to, any special debt service reserve fund due to the investment of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund may be transferred by the district to other funds or accounts of the district to the extent that the transfer does not reduce the amount of the special debt service reserve fund below the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (4) Limitation on bonds secured by a special debt service reserve fund. A district shall accumulate in each special debt service reserve fund an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. A district may not at any time issue bonds secured in whole or in part by a special debt service reserve fund if upon the issuance of these bonds the amount in the special debt service reserve fund will be less than the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. (5) Special debt service reserve fund requirement. The special debt service reserve fund requirement for a special debt service reserve fund, as of any particular date of computation, is equal to an amount of money, as provided in the bond resolution authorizing the bonds with respect to which the special debt service reserve fund is established, that may not exceed the maximum annual debt service on the bonds of the district for the fiscal year in which the computation is made or any future fiscal year of the district secured in whole or in part by that special debt service reserve fund. In computing the annual debt service for any fiscal year, bonds deemed to have been paid in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall not be included in bonds outstanding on the date of computation. The annual debt service for any fiscal year is the amount of money equal to the aggregate of all of the following calculated on the assumption that the bonds will, after the date of computation, cease to be outstanding by reason, but only by reason, of the payment of bonds when due, and the payment when due, and application in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing those bonds, of all of the sinking fund payments payable at or after the date of computation: (a) All interest payable during the fiscal year on all bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund and that are outstanding on the date of computation. (b) The principal amount of all of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund, are outstanding on the date of computation and mature during the fiscal year. (c) All amounts specified in bond resolutions of the district authorizing any of the bonds that are secured in whole or in part by the special debt service reserve fund to be payable during the fiscal year as a sinking fund payment with respect to any of the bonds that mature after the fiscal year. (6) Valuation of securities. In computing the amount of a special debt service reserve fund for the purposes of this section, securities in which all or a portion of the special debt service reserve fund is invested shall be valued at par, or, if purchased at less than par, at their cost to the district. (7) State moral obligation pledge. If at any time of valuation the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for a special debt service reserve fund exceeds the amount of moneys in the special debt service reserve fund, the district board shall certify to the secretary of administration, the governor, the joint committee on finance and the governing body of the county in the district the amount necessary to restore the special debt service reserve fund to an amount equal to the special debt service reserve fund requirement under sub. (5) for the special debt service reserve fund. If this certification is received by the secretary of administration in an even-numbered year prior to the completion of the budget compilation under s. 16.43, the secretary shall include the certified amount in the budget compilation. In any case, the joint committee on finance shall introduce in either house, in bill form, an appropriation of the amount so certified to the appropriate special debt service reserve fund of the district. Recognizing its moral obligation to do so, the legislature hereby expresses its expectation and aspiration that, if ever called upon to do so, it shall make this appropriation. (8) Information to joint committee on finance. The district shall provide to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance information concerning the district’s projected cashflows and security features underlying each issuance of bonds under this subchapter.

Wis. Stat. § 229.831 Bonds not public debt

(1) The state and the county and municipalities located wholly or partly within the district’s jurisdiction are not liable on bonds and the bonds are not a debt of the state or the county or any municipality located wholly or partly within the district. All bonds shall contain a statement to this effect on the face of the bond. A bond issue does not, directly or indirectly or contingently, obligate the state or a political subdivision of the state to levy any tax or make any appropriation for payment of the bonds. (2) Nothing in this subchapter authorizes a district to create a debt of the state or the county or any municipality located wholly or partly within the district’s jurisdiction, and all bonds issued by a district are payable, and shall state that they are payable, solely from the funds pledged for their payment in accordance with the bond resolution authorizing their issuance or in any trust indenture or mortgage or deed of trust executed as security for the bonds. Neither the state nor the county or any such municipality is liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on a bond or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement that may be undertaken by a district. The breach of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement undertaken by a district does not impose pecuniary liability upon the state or the county or any such municipality in the district’s jurisdiction or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power. (3) Bonds issued by the district may be secured only by the district’s interest in any football stadium facilities, by income from these facilities, by proceeds of bonds issued by the district and by other amounts placed in a special redemption fund and investment earnings on such amounts, including any taxes imposed by the district under subch. V of ch. 77. The district may not pledge its full faith and credit on the bonds and the bonds are not a general obligation liability of the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.832 State pledge

The state pledges to and agrees with the bondholders, and persons that enter into contracts with a district under this subchapter, that the state will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in a district by this subchapter, including the rights and powers under s. 229.824 (15), before the district has fully met and discharged the bonds, and any interest due on the bonds, and has fully performed its contracts, unless adequate provision is made by law for the protection of the bondholders or those entering into contracts with a district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.833 Trust funds

Wis. Stat. § 229.834 Budgets; rates and charges; audit

Wis. Stat. § 229.840 Legislative declaration

(1) The legislature determines that this subchapter serves a statewide public purpose by assisting the development of cultural arts facilities in the state, which provide educational and recreational opportunities for Wisconsin residents, by enhancing the appreciation of the arts among the states’ residents, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the state for the benefit and welfare of people throughout the state. (2) The legislature determines that cultural arts districts in populous cities serve a public purpose in those cities by providing educational and recreational opportunities for residents of those cities, by enhancing the appreciation of the arts among the residents of those cities, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into those cities for the benefit and welfare of people in those cities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.841 Definitions

In this subchapter: (1) “Bond” means any bond, note or other obligation issued under s. 66.0621 by a district. (2) “Bond resolution” means a resolution of the district board authorizing the issuance of, or providing terms and conditions related to, bonds and includes, where appropriate, any trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust providing terms and conditions for bonds. (3) “County executive” means the county executive or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors, of the county in which the sponsoring city is located. If a sponsoring city is located in more than one county, the city shall be considered to be located solely in the county in which the greatest percentage of its territory is located at the time a district is created. (4) “Cultural arts activity” means any performance, program, concert, exhibit, show, broadcast or other activity with any artistic or cultural significance, or any related or incidental activity. (5) “Cultural arts facilities” means district property, tangible or intangible, owned in whole or in part, operated or leased by a district that is principally for a cultural arts activity including auditoriums, music halls, exhibit halls, theaters, practice facilities, dressing rooms, parking lots, garages, restaurants, concession facilities, entertainment facilities, transportation facilities and other functionally related or auxiliary facilities or structures. (6) “District” means a district created under this subchapter. (7) “District board” means the governing board of a district. (8) “Mayor” means the mayor of a sponsoring city. (9) “Populous city” means any city with a population of more than 150,000. (10) “Sponsoring city” means a populous city that creates a district under this subchapter.

Wis. Stat. § 229.842 Creation and organization

(1) A sponsoring city may create a special purpose district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state and the sponsoring city, that has the powers under s. 229.844 and the name of which includes “Cultural Arts District”, if all of the following occur: (a) The mayor issues a written proclamation declaring the need for establishing a district. (b) The sponsoring city’s common council adopts a resolution that approves the mayor’s proclamation, and delivers a copy of the resolution to the governor. The resolution under this paragraph may contain a procedure that the mayor must follow in appointing persons to the board under sub. (2) (c). (c) If the sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, the resolution under par. (b) specifies the area of the district’s jurisdiction, as described in s. 229.843 (1), within which the district board may exercise its power of eminent domain. (2) A district is governed by its district board. If the sponsoring city is a 1st class city, sub. (4) applies but pars. (a) to (d) and sub. (3) do not apply and the 1st class city’s common council shall determine the membership, structure, qualifications and selection procedures for the district board. If the sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, the district board shall consist of the following members, subject to sub. (4): (a) The following persons, or their designees, shall be ex-officio members of the board, except that a designee serves at the pleasure of his or her appointing authority: 1. The governor. 2. The mayor. 3. The county executive. (b) Three persons appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 to 5 names that is submitted by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Of the remaining 2 appointees under this paragraph, at least one of the appointees shall have a demonstrated interest in cultural arts activities and one of the appointees may be an elective state official. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. (c) Subject to sub. (1) (b), 6 persons appointed by the mayor, one of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 to 5 names that is submitted by the school board of the school district in which the greatest percentage of the sponsoring city’s territory is located. Of the remaining 5 appointees under this paragraph, at least 2 of the appointees shall have a demonstrated interest in cultural arts activities and not more than 3 of the appointees may be elective city officials. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to any procedures specified by the common council under sub. (1) (b). (d) One person appointed by the county executive, who may not be a county official. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. (3) (a) The persons appointed under sub. (2) (b) to (d) shall serve staggered terms of 4 years expiring on July 1, except that: 1. The initial term of the director appointed by the county executive shall expire on July 1 of the 3rd year beginning after the year of creation of a district. 2. The initial term of one director appointed by the governor and 2 directors appointed by the mayor shall expire on July 1 of the 4th year beginning after the year of creation of a district. 3. The initial term of one director appointed by the governor and 2 directors appointed by the mayor shall expire on July 1 of the 5th year beginning after the year of creation of a district. 4. The initial term of one director appointed by the governor and 2 directors appointed by the mayor shall expire on July 1 of the 6th year beginning after the year of creation of a district. (b) The governor and mayor shall each designate with their initial appointments the terms to which directors have been appointed. (c) Persons appointed under sub. (2) (b) to (d) must have resided within 25 miles of the sponsoring city’s city hall for at least one year before their appointment. Persons appointed under sub. (2) (b) to (d) may be removed from the district board before the expiration of their terms by the appointing authority but only for cause, as defined in s. 17.001. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under sub. (2) (b) to (d) shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term to which he or she is appointed. The appointing authorities shall confer with one another regarding their appointments with a view toward achieving diversity on the district board. (4) If the sponsoring city’s common council determines that another city or a village or town having territory located within 25 miles of the sponsoring city’s city hall provides substantial support to the district, the council may increase the size of the district board to include as a member the mayor, village president or town board chair of that city, village or town, or the designee of such a mayor, village president or town board chair. If the sponsoring city’s common council subsequently determines that the other city or the village or town no longer provides substantial support to the district, the council may decrease the size of the district board to exclude that member. (5) The district board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. The district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those members of the district board who are present at a meeting of the district board. (6) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed by the district for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. (7) Upon the appointment and qualification of at least 7 of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter. (8) At its first meeting, the district board shall name the district, and the name shall include “Cultural Arts District”.

Wis. Stat. § 229.843 Jurisdiction

(1) Except as provided under s. 229.844 (4) (c), a district’s jurisdiction shall be the boundaries of the sponsoring city. (2) A district’s jurisdiction and powers remain in effect even if the sponsoring city, after the creation of the district, is no longer a populous city.

Wis. Stat. § 229.844 Powers of a district

A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following: (1) Adopt bylaws to govern the district’s activities, subject to this subchapter. (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded. (3) Maintain an office. (4) In connection with cultural arts facilities or in support of any cultural arts activity: (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the cultural arts facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise or otherwise, or engage other persons to do these things. (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; or transfer property within or outside of the district’s jurisdiction. (c) 1. If the district’s sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, acquire property by condemnation, subject to the limits specified in the resolution under s. 229.842 (1) (c) or the ordinance or resolution under s. 229.846 (6). 2. If the district’s sponsoring city is a 1st class city, request the 1st class city’s redevelopment authority, created under s. 66.1333 (3) (a) 3., to condemn property on behalf of the district. (d) Enter into contracts, subject to such standards as may be established by the district board. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates and may consider any factors in awarding a contract, including price, time for completion of work and qualifications and past performance of a contractor. (e) Grant concessions. (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, other than a benefit plan provided under ch. 40, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan. (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance, other than a plan provided under ch. 40. (7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district’s revenue, property or funds. (8) (a) Issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.849 to 229.853, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds by the district or, for purposes related to the district, by a community development authority created under s. 66.1335, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements. (b) Contract short term obligations, and pledge the full faith and credit of the district for repayment of those obligations. (c) No director, employee of the district nor any other person executing any agreements with respect to any bonds or other obligations under this subsection is personally liable on the obligations or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of such obligations. (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate. (10) Promote, advertise and publicize its cultural arts facilities and related cultural arts activities. (11) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its cultural arts facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order. (12) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of its cultural arts facilities or for services rendered by the district. (13) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district’s purposes. (14) Solicit and accept gifts, loans, grants of land or other property and other aid, and agree to conditions with respect to such gifts, loans, grants or other aid. (15) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the repayment of debt contracted by the district. (16) Adopt and alter an official seal. (17) Direct its agents or employees, if properly identified in writing, to enter upon any real property that the district has the authority to condemn, or that the redevelopment authority has the authority to condemn on behalf of the district, to make surveys and examinations before locating or constructing cultural arts facilities without incurring liability by the district, its agents or employees except for actual damage done. Before directing anyone to enter real property under this subsection, the district shall give the owner and occupant of the property at least 5 days’ written notice. If the owner or occupant does not consent to the entry, the district may petition the circuit court for the county in which the property is located for an order permitting entry upon the property. The district shall serve a copy of the petition upon the owner and occupant. Before issuing an order, the court shall require the district to demonstrate the necessity of the entry and shall examine the reasonableness of the proposed scope, time, place and manner of the entry. The court may impose appropriate limitations upon the entry in its order. (18) Provide money or other property, by sale, loan, lease, grant, gift or other form of transfer, to any other person.

Wis. Stat. § 229.845 Minority contracting goals; disabled veteran-owned business contracting goals

(1) In this section: (ag) “Disabled veteran-owned business” means a business certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3). (am) “Minority business” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (e). (b) “Women’s business” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or corporation that is at least 51 percent owned, controlled and actively managed by women. (2) It shall be a goal of the district, in awarding construction work and professional services contracts related to cultural arts facilities, that at least 15 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to minority businesses, at least 1 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to disabled veteran-owned businesses, and at least 5 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to women’s businesses, except that if the sponsoring city is a 1st class city, it shall be a goal of the district, in awarding construction work and professional services contracts related to cultural arts facilities, that at least 25 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to minority businesses, at least 1 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to disabled veteran-owned businesses, and at least 5 percent of the aggregate dollar value of such contracts awarded by the district shall be awarded to women’s businesses.

Wis. Stat. § 229.846 Powers granted to a sponsoring city

In addition to any powers that it may otherwise have, a sponsoring city may do any of the following: (1) Make grants, gifts or loans of any kind of property, or provide any other form of assistance, to a district upon terms that the sponsoring city considers appropriate. (2) Expend public funds to subsidize a district. (3) Borrow money under ss. 67.04 and 67.12 (12) for cultural arts facilities or to fund grants, loans or subsidies to a district. (4) Audit the financial records of a district. The sponsoring city may conduct the audit itself or may contract for the audit to be performed by any other person. (5) Fix and collect a sum to be paid annually, in lieu of property taxes, by the district except that the sum may not exceed the amount that would be levied by the city as a property tax on the property that is exempted under s. 70.11 (40). (6) If the district’s sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that expands or contracts the area within the district’s jurisdiction in which the district board may exercise its power of eminent domain, except that a sponsoring city may not remove from that area any property that was included in the resolution under s. 229.842 (1) (c).

Wis. Stat. § 229.847 Dissolution of a district

Subject to providing for the payment of its bonds or other debts that it has incurred, including interest on the bonds or other debts, and the performance of its other contractual obligations, a district may be dissolved by one of the following methods: (1) By a law enacted by this state. (2) If the sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, by the unanimous action of the district board. (3) If the sponsoring city is a 1st class city, by any means described in the initial resolution under which the 1st class city created the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.848 Transfers; transfer agreements

(1) If a district is dissolved under s. 229.847, the property of the district shall be transferred either to the sponsoring city or to an entity described either in section 170 (c) (1) or in both sections 170 (c) (2) and 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the sponsoring city is a 1st class city, the specific entity to which the district’s property shall be transferred upon dissolution shall be specified in the initial resolution under which the 1st class city created the district. If the sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, the district board shall determine the entity to which the district’s property shall be transferred upon dissolution. (2) A sponsoring city and a district board may enter into a transfer agreement to provide the terms and conditions upon which the sponsoring city or the district board may transfer any interests in an existing or proposed cultural arts facility, or any other property interests owned by either party, to the other party to the agreement. A transfer may take the form of a sale, lease, or other conveyance and may be with or without financial consideration.

Wis. Stat. § 229.849 District bonds and debt not public debt

(1) Neither the state nor the sponsoring city is liable on bonds or other debt of the district and the bonds and other debt of the district are not a debt of the state or the sponsoring city. All bonds and other debt of the district shall contain on the face of the bond or the debt instrument a statement to this effect. The issuance of bonds or the incurrence of other debt by the district shall not, directly or indirectly or contingently, obligate the state or the sponsoring city to levy any form of taxation therefor or to make any appropriation for the payment of the bonds or other debt. (2) Nothing in this subchapter authorizes the district to create a debt of the state or the sponsoring city, and all bonds issued by the district and all other debt incurred by the district are payable, and shall state that they are payable, solely from the funds pledged for their payment in accordance with the resolution authorizing their issuance or incurrence or in any trust indenture or mortgage or deed of trust executed as security for the bonds or other debt. Neither the state nor the sponsoring city shall in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds or other debt of the district or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement that may be undertaken by the district. No breach of any such pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement may impose any pecuniary liability upon the state or the sponsoring city or any charge upon the state’s or the sponsoring city’s general credit or against the state’s or the sponsoring city’s taxing power.

Wis. Stat. § 229.850 Special fund for payment of principal and interest costs on certain bonds

The district may maintain a special fund into which it deposits any income or property of the district that is used for the payment of principal and interest costs of bonds issued by the district or by a community development authority created under s. 66.1335 for purposes related to the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.851 State pledge

The state pledges to and agrees with the holders of any bond issued by the district or other debt incurred by the district, and with those parties who may enter into contracts with the district, that the state will not limit or alter the rights vested in the district by this subchapter until such bonds or other debt, together with the interest on the bonds and other debt, are fully met and discharged and such contracts are fully performed on the part of the district, but nothing shall preclude such a limitation or alteration if adequate provision is made by law for the protection of the holders of such bonds or other debt or those entering into such contracts.

Wis. Stat. § 229.852 Pledge of revenues

A district may pledge the revenues derived, or to be derived, from any cultural arts facility for any of the following purposes: (1) The payment of administrative costs and expenses of the district. (2) The payment of the principal of, the premium on, if any, and the interest on outstanding bonds and other debt of the district. (3) The creation and maintenance of a special fund or reserves with respect to bonds issued by the district.

Wis. Stat. § 229.853 Trust funds

All moneys received by the district under this subchapter, whether as proceeds from the issuance of bonds or the incurrence of other debt or as revenues, shall be considered to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this subchapter. Any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, the moneys are deposited shall act as trustee of the moneys and shall hold and apply the same for the purposes of this subchapter, subject to such regulations as this subchapter and any bond resolution or debt agreement authorizing the bonds or debt may provide.

Wis. Stat. § 229.854 Sponsoring city employment regulations

Any ordinance of a sponsoring city that regulates employment relations or practices of all private employers, generally, shall apply to employees of the district, unless the sponsoring city’s common council excludes the application of such an ordinance to the district’s employees.

Wis. Stat. § 229.6802 Lease and nonrelocation agreements required

The grant under s. 16.09 (3) may not be awarded unless the secretary of administration determines that all of the following apply: (1) Lease. The district has entered into a customary lease arrangement with a professional baseball team that satisfies all of the following: (a) Has a standard term that expires no earlier than December 31, 2050. (b) Requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $300,000 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024. (c) In addition to the deposits under par. (b), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $1,851,852 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024. (d) In addition to the deposits under pars. (b) and (c), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 22 annual rental payments in the amount of $1,208,401 to the district beginning in 2024 and to make at least 5 annual rental payments in the amount of $3,208,401 to the district beginning in 2046, of which the district shall deposit not less than $2,000,000 of each such payment into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. (e) In addition to the deposits and payments under pars. (b), (c), and (d), requires the professional baseball team, or a 3rd party on the professional baseball team’s behalf, to make financial contributions in connection with the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities during the term of the lease in an amount that totals $50,000,000, of which $25,000,000 must be so contributed before January 1, 2037, and requires the team to regularly report to the district all expenditures under this paragraph. (f) Requires the professional baseball team, upon expiration of the lease or upon termination of the lease as a result of breach by the professional baseball team, to disclaim any interest in moneys of the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 and, upon request of the district, convey and transfer to the district for consideration not to exceed $1 all of the professional baseball team’s right and title to the baseball park facilities, except for ancillary improvements constructed or developed by the professional baseball team after December 7, 2023, without financial contribution from the state or the district. (2) Nonrelocation agreement. The district has entered into a nonrelocation agreement with the professional baseball team that, except as required by the league of professional baseball teams of which the team is a member, requires the professional baseball team to play all of its home games at the baseball park facilities and prohibits the professional baseball team from relocating until expiration or termination of the lease according to its terms. (3) Third-party negotiator. The district has contracted with a 3rd party approved by a two-thirds vote of all current members appointed to the board and eligible to vote on the matter to represent the district in connection with negotiation of the lease and nonrelocation agreements under this section.

Wis. Stat. § 229.6805 Facility management

During the term of any lease between the district and a professional baseball team with respect to baseball park facilities, the district shall, at the district’s expense, contract with a facility management company or employ an executive director with expertise in managing and operating professional sports facilities and venues similar to the baseball park facilities. The contract shall require the facility management company or executive director to have primary responsibility to manage and supervise the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities.

Wis. Stat. § 229.8245 Limitations on district

(1) The name of a football stadium may not be changed without the written consent of the municipality in which it is located and the professional football team described in s. 229.823. (2) The district may not issue bonds under s. 229.824 (8) unless all of the following apply: (a) The district has entered into a lease with a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, under which the team agrees to be the principal tenant of the football stadium for a term of not less than 30 years. (b) A professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, certifies to the district that it has applied to the league of professional football teams to which it belongs for approval of a policy that allows a person who paid a onetime license or similar right, as described in s. 77.54 (45), to receive a payment in an amount that is equal to the amount of the license or right from any person who subsequently receives that license or right. (c) The district and a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, enter into an agreement, which may not be amended, under which the team agrees that if the team is sold, if its assets are liquidated or if the team is transferred to a new owner before the certification is made under s. 229.825 (3) (a), the terms of the sale, liquidation or transfer of the team shall require the immediate retirement of all outstanding bonds, including bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds. (d) The district and a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, enter into an agreement under which the team agrees that no engraved tiles or bricks, which may be placed in or around football stadium facilities, may be sold by the team and that engraved tiles or bricks may be sold only by the district, as provided in s. 229.824 (19). (e) The district and a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, enter into an agreement under which $500,000 from the proceeds of fees or other charges under s. 229.824 (13) will be deposited each year into the fund under s. 229.8257. The agreement shall also provide that the deposits shall begin in the 1st year after the year in which the tax is first imposed under s. 77.706, and shall continue until the funding condition set forth in s. 229.825 (2) (d) 2. or (e) 2. is satisfied. The agreement shall also specify that the $500,000 amount may not be reduced in any subsequent agreement between the district and the professional football team.

Wis. Stat. § 229.8257 Football stadium facility maintenance and operating cost fund

(1) The district board shall establish a fund into which it deposits all of the revenue received from the department of revenue, that is derived from the revenue from engraved brick or tile sales under s. 229.824 (19), the revenue received from the department of transportation under s. 85.605, the deposit made pursuant to s. 229.8245 (2) (e) and an amount equal to the amount deposited into the fund under s. 229.825 (2) (d) 2. and (e) 2., and may use this revenue only to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities. The district may not deposit any other moneys into the fund, except that the district shall credit all earnings on the revenues in the fund to the fund. (2) Beginning in the 3rd year that occurs immediately after the year in which the tax is first imposed under s. 77.706, the following amounts in the following order, plus the amount specified in s. 229.825 (2) (b), shall be used to pay the maintenance and operating costs of the football stadium facilities: (a) The deposit made pursuant to s. 229.8245 (2) (e) in that year. (c) The revenue received from engraved brick or tile sales under s. 229.824 (19) in that year. (d) The revenue received from the department of transportation under s. 85.605 in that year.

Wis. Stat. § 229.8273 Minority, disabled veteran, and women contracting

(1) In this section: (a) “Contractor” means a professional football team, as described under s. 229.823, or a related party, or any other person who enters into a contract for construction or renovation work or professional services contracts, as described in sub. (2). (am) “Disabled veteran-owned business” means a business certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3). (b) “Minority business” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (e). (c) “Minority group member” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (f). (d) “Women’s business” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation that is at least 51 percent owned, controlled and actively managed by women. (2) A district shall ensure that, for construction or renovation work and professional services contracts that relate to the construction or renovation of football stadium facilities that are financed by the proceeds of bonds issued under s. 229.824 (8), a person who is awarded such a contract by the district or by a contractor shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that his or her goal shall be to ensure that at least 15 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be minority group members, at least 1 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be employees of a disabled veteran-owned business, and at least 5 percent of the employees hired because of the contract will be women. (3) It shall be a goal of the district to ensure that at least 15 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts that relate to the construction or renovation of football stadium facilities that are financed by the proceeds of bonds issued under s. 229.824 (8), shall be awarded to minority businesses, at least 1 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the board shall be awarded to disabled veteran-owned businesses, and at least 5 percent of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the board shall be awarded to women’s businesses. (4) (a) The district shall ensure that, for construction or renovation work and professional services contracts described under sub. (2), a person who is awarded such a contract by the district or by a contractor shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that if he or she is unable to meet the goal under sub. (2), he or she shall make a good faith effort to contract with the technical college district board of the technical college district in which the football stadium facilities are to be constructed or renovated, or the professional services contract is to be performed, to develop appropriate training programs designed to increase the pool of minority group members, disabled veterans, and women who are qualified to perform the construction work or professional services. (b) If the district is unable to meet the goals under sub. (3), the district shall make a good faith effort to contract with the technical college district board of the technical college district in which the contracts described under sub. (3) are to be performed to develop appropriate training programs designed to increase the pool of minority group members, disabled veterans, and women who are qualified to perform the contracts described under sub. (3). (5) (a) The district shall hire an independent person to monitor and a project coordinator to satisfy the district’s and the contractor’s compliance with minority contracting goals under subs. (2) and (3). The person hired shall have previous experience working with minority group members. The district shall develop a mechanism to receive regular reports from the person hired with respect to the results of the person’s studies of compliance with minority contracting goals. (b) If the district or a contractor is unable to meet the goals under sub. (2) or (3), the person hired under par. (a) shall assess whether the district or contractor made a good faith effort to reach the goals. In determining whether a good faith effort was made to meet the goals, the person hired shall consider all of the following factors: 1. The supply of eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses that have the financial capacity, technical capacity and previous experience in the areas in which contracts were awarded. 2. The competing demands for the services provided by eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses, as described in subd. 1., in areas in which contracts were awarded. 3. The extent to which the district or contractors advertised for and aggressively solicited bids from eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses, as described in subd. 1., and the extent to which eligible minority businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women’s businesses submitted bids. (7) The goals under subs. (2) and (3) shall apply to all of the following: (a) Any insurance-funded repair work on football stadium facilities. (b) Any post-construction contract related to football stadium facilities for management of the facilities, for professional services and for development services, except that this paragraph does not apply to a post-construction contract for general maintenance of football stadium facilities that is provided by a political subdivision. (c) Any contractor, subcontractor or any other person who is awarded or enters into a contract that relates to the construction or renovation of football stadium facilities that are financed by the proceeds of bonds issued under s. 229.824 (8), or any subcontractor of such a person.

Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/229Fetched: 10/7/2026