It appears at least one real estate developer has expressed interest in buying public buildings in Wisconsin. Sales are allowable, under the new state budget.
According to records the Associated Press has obtained, developer Terrence Wall informed Gov. Walker in June, that the businessman was interested in purchasing several state office buildings in Madison.
Walker, in his proposed budget, gave the governor's administration permission to sell state-owned property and without a competitive bidding process, if a sale makes sense for property taxpayers.
Democrats argued that the plan would open the door to special deals for political allies. Republicans responded by requiring all transactions to by approved by the Legislature's budget committee and undergo a cost-benefit analysis. The item was finally approved, along party lines.
The governor's spokesman Tom Evenson says, as far as he knows, no one has responded to Wall's letter.