THEINSVILLE, Wisconsin – Feb. 15, 2023 – State Senate candidate Dr. Van Mobley called on the State Legislature to eliminate a budget proposal by Governor Tony Evers to give $290 million to the Milwaukee Brewers organization and to instead use the money for tax relief or funding current government programs.
“The 7 billion state surplus is not a slush fund to be squandered by shoving taxpayer money into billionaires’ pockets. There are better ways to use the state surplus, Governor Evers,” Mobley tweeted in response.
Mobley is a full professor of economics and history at Concordia University of Wisconsin and has served as Village President of Thiensville for over a decade.
A 2022 study from the University of Michigan titled “Cities Should Not Pay For New Stadiums” found that promises of economic stimulation and job creation fail to generate an economic benefit large enough to offset the costs of the investment from government. The study found that the jobs created by new stadiums tend to be part-time and seasonal instead of full-time jobs with better pay and benefits. The study also suggests that directing funds to infrastructure or education would have a better return on investment.
“That $290 million would be better spent in Milwaukee fighting crime, improving schools, or removing lead pipes so people have clean drinking water,” said Mobley. “Instead of helping taxpayers, Governor Evers wants to give a multimillion-dollar payday to a billionaire.”
The $290 million one-time payment will be made to the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District which “is charged with overseeing, operating, and maintaining American Family Field” as part of the state budget that will be introduced by Gov. Evers today. The payment will
allegedly be contingent on an agreement to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee until 2043, the enforcement of which has already come under question.
“It is a poor negotiating strategy to give the Brewers $290 million at this juncture. The Brewers are locked into a contract to stay until 2030,” said Mobley. “If they don’t spend some money on players and win a championship we might not want them at that point.”
Mobley is running in the Republican Primary in the Spring Election on Tuesday, February 21st for the 8th Senate District Seat which is currently vacant.
