More Funding for Seattle Arenas

Three Washington state lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation that would finance a $205 million expansion of Seattle's Key Arena (basketball home of the Sonics) and provide millions more for area arts programs. The money would come from an extension of several taxes, including taxes on car-rental, hotels and restaurants, that are now used to pay construction debt on the city's new football and baseball stadiums. Instead of the taxes being lowered when the debt is paid off, the revenue would go towards the renovation and local arts programs. The bill is expected to face significant opposition because of the large amounts of public funds that were recently spent to build the two new stadiums.

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