Picking up tab for 5 stadiums?

You'd think having the public pick up the tab for one or two sports stadiums would be enough. Heck, even three.

How about five? You won't hear this number from our cheerleading elected officials as the drive heats up, this year and probably next, to buy a $220 million arena for the Sonics.

But it's what leapt out at me from a state analysis of the Sonics' proposal. If we agree to build the team a new home bejeweled with luxury boxes, we the people will be paying for five Seattle sports stadiums simultaneously.

Two of which will no longer exist.

Is any more proof needed that pro sports has morphed into a government program? And an endless boondoggle of a government program at that?

The five stadiums are: the old Kingdome, Safeco Field, Qwest Field, KeyArena and whatever new or remodeled digs the Sonics get this time around.

I suppose I should have known this, but I was shocked to see we have 11 years of payments left on the Kingdome.

Remember it? In a spectacular show, we blew it up with 4,500 pounds of dynamite. That thrill is long gone. But six years later, taxpayers still owe $134 million (including interest).

The public also owes $308 million on Safeco, where the Mariners play. Nearly $400 million on Qwest, home of the Seahawks. At least $50 million on the Key, not a dime of which will go away when we demolish that arena, too.

Rather than questioning the wisdom of all this, our leading politicians — Gov. Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels — seem set on splurging for the new arena.

But that's not all. After the stadiums get paid off, the teams want the taxes to continue as a permanent public subsidy for pro sports.

This is happening at the same time another venerable Seattle institution is, like the Sonics, in the red due to mismanagement, aging facilities and a diminishing fan base.

This institution also went to local and state officials and asked for help.

But nobody offered any. Unlike the Sonics, these folks were told to shape up. To make tough choices. To run their operation more like a business.

This institution is the Seattle School District.

And so we're having another of those moments when you shake your head and wonder: Who is our government serving?

We have the state's largest school system, a government program, in the midst of closing schools, slashing courses and canceling bus service. All to balance its budget.

And we have a sports franchise, a private business owned by 58 multimillionaires, in line for a handout at the state Capitol so it can juice up its luxury boxes. All to balance its budget.

Politicians say we can have both — a solid school system and our own pro-basketball team. We don't have to choose one over the other.

OK. But wittingly or not, that's precisely what they're doing. And they're choosing the wrong one.

Danny Westneat's column appears Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 206-464-2086 or dwestneat@seattletimes.com.