Milwaukee Taxpayers Pay $45 Million, Get Nothing — State Secures Ownership Stake Under Motion 84
- SaveMPM
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee Taxpayers Pay $45 Million, Get Nothing — State Secures Ownership Stake Under Motion 84
Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee County taxpayers are being asked to contribute $45 million toward the controversial new Milwaukee Public Museum project, yet according to the terms of the funding agreements, the County will receive no ownership stake in the new facility. In stark contrast, when state lawmakers approved their $40 million grant under
, the State of Wisconsin explicitly retained an ownership interest equal to its grant amount should the new building cease to operate as a museum of nature and culture.
This unequal treatment raises urgent questions of fairness and accountability. Milwaukee County residents, who already own the world’s largest municipally owned museum collection under the 2013 Lease and Management Agreement, are effectively being stripped of their rights as public owners. Meanwhile, state taxpayers — paying less — are afforded protection for their investment.
“This is a double standard,” said PreserveMKE.org. “Milwaukee taxpayers are footing a bigger bill, but the state has secured legal protections for its contribution that our County leadership failed to demand. Why are our elected officials giving away public dollars without securing even the most basic safeguards?”
The decision to deny Milwaukee County residents an ownership claim has fueled concerns about transparency, oversight, and whether local elected officials adequately defended the public’s interest. The County Board approved its $45 million in 2022 with little debate, while the state legislature made clear in Motion 84 that its investment would not be at risk.
With the new facility estimated to cost $240 million — nearly double the figure first presented — and with uncertainty still surrounding which beloved exhibits will survive the transition, public trust is eroding rapidly.
Milwaukee taxpayers deserve to know why their $45 million contribution comes with no strings attached, while the State of Wisconsin protected its investment.
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