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.

History: 1999 a. 167; 2001 a. 38; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 75.