Bennett expects voter rebuff

Sonics owner Clay Bennett doesn't want a public vote on taxes to pay for the team's proposed new $500 million Renton arena because the outcome would probably be the same as most of the team's games this year: a loss.

In an interview Wednesday with The Seattle Times editorial board, Bennett said he hopes politicians will show "leadership" to keep the Sonics and Storm in the state by approving the taxes without a public referendum.

"Given the climate and given the opponents and their vigilance ... I think a public vote would be very difficult to survive," he said.

But it is looking increasingly likely the Sonics cannot avoid a public vote if they want a shot at $300 million in King County taxes for the project.

The five Democrats who make up a majority of the Metropolitan King County Council signed a letter to Gov. Christine Gregoire and legislative leaders saying they will not approve any arena-tax package sent to them by the Legislature if it sidesteps voters.

"With no public vote, it's dead on arrival," said County Councilman Bob Ferguson, D-Seattle. "It is a significant, regional decision and it's entirely appropriate for the public to make that decision."

That stand can be traced to lingering voter resentment over how Safeco Field was built.

In 1995, voters narrowly rejected a sales-tax increase for a new Mariners stadium. State lawmakers decided to fund it anyway.

They rushed into emergency session and came up with a new package of taxes that was approved by the Legislature and the County Council without a second public vote.

Voters have never let politicians forget that episode.

"That is an issue that has never died," said County Councilman Larry Phillips, D-Seattle, who wrote the letter to Gregoire. "I deeply regret it."

Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, the Sonics' biggest ally in the Legislature, scoffed at the letter.

"I'm not sure what their motive is," said Prentice, D-Renton. "Why have a public vote on a tax the people are already paying, and paying quite willingly?"

Although the Sonics' plan would not increase taxes being paid by county residents, it would extend the life of some taxes scheduled to expire and divert some taxes that could otherwise pay for general state services.

Prentice said she believes any political fallout from approving the tax package would be "very positive."

The Sonics proposal, Senate Bill 5986, sponsored by Prentice, would raise $300 million for construction of the Sonics arena and an additional $123 million for arts groups and for future maintenance at Safeco Field.

An additional $200 million needed for the $500 million Sonics arena would be split by Sonics owners and the city of Renton, Bennett said.

Bennett has refused to specify the owners' contribution and said Wednesday some of it could come from selling naming rights to the arena or a ticket tax on premium seats.

More than half the tax money, $227 million, would come from sales-tax credits that divert money that otherwise could flow to the state general fund. The remaining $196 million would come from taxes on car rentals, hotels and restaurant meals.

It's not clear the Sonics proposal will go anywhere in the Legislature.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, who for the past two years has been perhaps the Sonics' biggest obstacle in Olympia, said Sonics officials haven't contacted him since the Legislature convened more than a month ago.

Chopp said that during his one meeting with Bennett, in December, he asked whether the team would support putting the taxes up for a public vote. Bennett said no.

"When Bennett told me directly that they weren't interested, OK, fine, then it's our decision about what's a priority or not," Chopp said Wednesday.

While Chopp refused to declare the tax package dead, he had nothing nice to say about it.

"I'm sorry, but the education of our kids is simply a much higher priority," Chopp said. "What am I going to do, divert money from [education] to pay for a place where the courtside seats cost, what is it, a thousand bucks a seat? Give me a break."

At the editorial board interview Wednesday, Bennett appeared dejected at times and said the arena plan needed support soon from top political and business leaders to have a chance.

He said the public needs to think about the arena as a community asset that would have more than 200 events a year, including basketball games, concerts, conventions and possibly a National Hockey League team.

"I'm troubled by the fact that I seem to be the only one who wants it to happen," he said.

If he can't get an arena deal this year, Bennett has said he may move the Sonics to Oklahoma City, his hometown.

"I personally hope we can get the building built, but if we don't, I'm OK, too," he said.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com