229.52(1)
(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.
229.52(2)
(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.
229.52 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.53
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.
229.53 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.55
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.
229.55 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.56
229.56
Funding and refunding bonds. 229.56(1)
(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.
229.56(2)
(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.
229.56 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.57
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.
229.57 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
LOCAL PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PARK DISTRICTS
229.64
229.64
Legislative declaration. 229.64(1)
(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. 229.74 (7) serve a statewide public purpose by assisting the development of a professional baseball park 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.
229.64(2)
(2) The legislature determines that a district including a county with a population of more than 600,000 serves a public purpose in that county and all counties that are contiguous to that county by providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the multicounty area for the benefit of people in the multicounty area.
229.64 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
2001 a. 16.
229.65
229.65
Definitions. In this subchapter:
229.65(1)
(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 professional baseball including parking lots, garages, restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment facilities and transportation facilities, and other functionally related or auxiliary facilities or structures.
229.65(2)
(2) "Bond" means any bond, note or other obligation issued under
s. 66.0621 by a district.
229.65(3)
(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.
229.65(4)
(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.
229.65(5)
(5) "District" means a special district created under this subchapter.
229.65(6)
(6) "District board" means the governing board of a district.
229.65(7)
(7) "Supermajority" means not less than 60% of the members of the district board.
229.65 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
1999 a. 150 s.
672.
229.66
229.66
Creation and organization. 229.66(1)
(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".
229.66(2)
(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:
229.66(2)(a)
(a) A number of persons equal to the number of counties within the jurisdiction of the district plus one, appointed by the governor. At least one of the persons appointed by the governor shall reside within each county that is within the jurisdiction of the district. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by the senate.
229.66(2)(b)
(b) Two persons appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous county within the jurisdiction of the district, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chief executive officer. A person appointed under this paragraph 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.
229.66(2)(c)
(c) One person for each county in the jurisdiction of the district other than the most populous county within the jurisdiction of the district, appointed by the chief executive officer of that county. Each person appointed under this paragraph for a county shall serve at the pleasure of the chief executive officer in that county. A person appointed under this paragraph 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.
229.66(2)(g)
(g) One person appointed by the mayor of the most populous city within the jurisdiction of a 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 mayor. A person appointed under this paragraph 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.
229.66(3)
(3) Upon appointment under
sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. The term of office of 50% of the persons appointed under
sub. (2) (a) is 2 years, and the term of office of the other 50% of the persons appointed under
sub. (2) (a) is 4 years, except that if an odd number of persons is appointed under
sub. (2) (a), there shall be one more office with a term of 4 years than there are offices with terms of 2 years, and except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 2nd year beginning after creation of a district for persons appointed to 2-year terms, and the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 4th year beginning after creation of a district for persons appointed to 4-year terms. Persons appointed under
sub. (2) (a) 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 for persons appointed under
sub. (2) (a) 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) (a) shall serve for the remainder of the term to which he or she is appointed. All of the appointing authorities shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the membership of the board is diverse with respect to race. Of the persons appointed under
sub. (2), not more than 4 may reside in any one county.
229.66(4)
(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. 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.
229.66(5)
(5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
229.66(6)
(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.
229.66(7)
(7) At its first meeting the district board shall name the district.
229.66 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
2001 a. 103.
229.67
229.67
Jurisdiction. A district's jurisdiction is any county with a population of more than 600,000 and all counties that are contiguous to that county and that are not already included in a different district. Once created, a district's jurisdiction is fixed even if the population of other counties within the district subsequently exceeds 600,000. Once a county is included in a district's jurisdiction the county remains in the district until the district is dissolved under
s. 229.71. In this section, "contiguous" includes a county that touches another county only at a corner.
229.67 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
2001 a. 16.
229.68
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. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following:
229.68(1)
(1) Adopt and alter an official seal.
229.68(2)
(2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.
229.68(4)
(4) In connection with baseball park facilities:
229.68(4)(a)
(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.
229.68(4)(b)
(b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; or transfer property; except that the district may not enter into any lease that does not receive the affirmative vote of a supermajority of the district board.
229.68(4)(d)
(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.
229.68(4)(f)
(f) Make a grant of land or other property to the state, especially dedicated by the grant to use for a professional baseball park.
229.68(5)
(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.
229.68(6)
(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.
229.68(7)
(7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district's property or funds.
229.68(8)
(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:
229.68(8)(a)
(a) A supermajority of the district board vote in favor of issuing bonds.
229.68(8)(b)
(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.
229.68(8)(c)
(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.
229.68(9)
(9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate.
229.68(11)
(11) Promote, advertise and publicize its baseball park facilities and related activities.
229.68(12)
(12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its baseball park facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.
229.68(13)
(13) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of its baseball park facilities or for services rendered by the district.
229.68(14)
(14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district's purposes.
229.68(15)
(15) Impose, by the adoption of a resolution, the taxes under
subch. V of ch. 77. A district may not levy any taxes that are not expressly authorized under
subch. V of ch. 77 and that do not receive the affirmative vote of a supermajority of the district board. If a district adopts a resolution which imposes taxes, it shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before its effective date.
229.68(16)
(16) Accept gifts, loans and other aid, which may be used only for the following purposes:
229.68(16)(a)
(a) Retiring the bonds used to construct the baseball park facilities.
229.68(16)(d)
(d) Making capital improvements to the baseball park facilities.
229.68(17)
(17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district.
229.68 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
1999 a. 150 s.
672;
2009 a. 2.
229.682
229.682
Special provisions. 229.682(1)(1)
Gifts and donations. The district board shall explore and consider ways to solicit and encourage gifts and donations for the construction of baseball park facilities and, to the extent feasible, implement means to solicit such gifts and donations.
229.682(2)
(2) Prevailing wages. The construction of a baseball park facility that is financed in whole or in part by a district is subject to
s. 66.0903.
229.682(3)
(3) Special debt payments. The district shall pay, over a 3-year period beginning on October 1, 1996, any outstanding debt used to finance improvements to a baseball stadium that has been used as a home field by a major league professional baseball team in the district, up to a maximum amount of $1,500,000.
229.682(4)
(4) Special ticket provisions. A major league professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are constructed under this subchapter shall annually designate, for each county that is in the district's jurisdiction, at least one of the team's home games as a discount ticket day for that county, for which residents of that county may purchase discounted admission tickets.
229.682(6)
(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.
229.682(7)
(7) Youth sports organizations. A major league professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are constructed under this subchapter shall make an annual contribution of at least $20,000 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.
229.682(8)
(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:
229.682(8)(a)
(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.
229.682(8)(b)
(b) A provision requiring the team to include amounts received under
par. (a) as part of its rental payment to the district.
229.682 History
History: 1995 a. 56;
1999 a. 150 s.
672.
229.685
229.685
Special fund tax revenues. 229.685(1)
(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, and may use this revenue only for purposes related to baseball park facilities.
229.685(2)
(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 to that effect.
