Walker Budget May Take Over Baraboo Circus Museum

Am hearing there is some sort of reverse privatization and state takeover of Circus World Museum in Walker's budget - - the Museum is on state land, but is run by a private non-profit foundation - - that is designed to channel Museum revenues to the state.

Am checking...

Some details, here:

Gov. Scott Walker recently unveiled a budget plan that includes rolling Circus World — whose property is state-owned but whose operations are funded privately — into the Historical Society. This would include making Circus World’s staffers state employees; funneling the site’s revenue into state coffers; and ending a lease agreement between the state and the Circus World Museum Foundation, Inc., which has operated the museum for 54 years...

Circus World leaders characterize the Historical Society’s plan as a cash grab. Circus World attracted 71,000 visitors in 2012, easily the most among state historic sites. The museum cleared $318,000 in 2011.

“They view us as the single largest revenue coming to the gate of all their sites, and they want it for themselves,” [Executive Director Steve] Freese said.

Walker’s proposed two-year budget, which requires Assembly and Senate approval, calls for spending $1.2 million to pay 10 Circus World employees. Meanwhile, projected revenues of about $2.4 million — from admissions, donations and other sources — would go to the Historical Society.