In Milwaukee, Patrick Marley reports Milwaukee County residents behind on their property taxes or court fines "would be charged an additional 15% under a proposal to use public money to pay for half the cost" of a new Bucks arena. Under the deal, the state "would tack 15% onto each person or entity's bill, as it does any time it takes over collecting debt for local governments." Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Press Secretary Laurel Patrick said that the county "could opt into the program even if there were no arena package" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/11).
SPRING CLEANING: In Ft. Lauderdale, Andy Reid reports Florida Gov. Rick Scott yesterday "lifted a legal hurdle to using West Palm Beach land" to build a new, $135M Spring Training ballpark for the Nationals and Astros. Scott "signed a change to state law, approved by the Florida Legislature in April, that allows building on a portion of land that was once protected to guard against water pollution." That "clears the way for Palm Beach County and the city of West Palm Beach to finalize a deal" to build there (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 6/11).
DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER: In New Jersey, John Brennan reports a state panel yesterday approved an amended $2.5B financing plan for the American Dream Meadowlands project, even as its developer, Triple Five, "acknowledged that the long-stalled shopping and entertainment complex would not open" before mid-'17. The Local Finance Board acted a "year and a half after it approved a partnership between the developer, Triple Five, and the borough of East Rutherford" whose centerpiece was a $1.75B construction budget (Bergen RECORD, 6/11).
