In return, the city would waive its rights to sell the naming rights. In effect, Jadin's proposal asks residents to put their money where their collective mouths have been, at least based on state surveys. Jadin declined to comment on the proposal, other than to say he had been working on a plan for some time and hoped to announce details soon. Told of the proposal, Bob Harlan, president of the Packers, said the team would not stand in the way if counties, at the behest of their citizens, agreed to raise money through a temporary sales tax. This is certainly a well-intentioned idea, but it's incredibly unlikely to see the light of day.
County boards have the statutory right to enact a sales tax.
Sources said Jadin's plan had been discussed with Packers officials, key legislators and other state officials. It is a far more ambitious program than the sale of Packers license plates, commemorative bricks or tiles, or a tax checkoff on income-tax returns, three other ways that officials hope will raise money to pay off the public portion of the debt. The proposal has not been discussed with Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, a spokesman said Friday. While state law allows counties to enact a sales tax, the tax can be imposed only for the purposes of reducing the property tax levy. Devoting it to a stadium project would require a change in the law.