MADISON, Wis. -- Should the city co-sign a loan for the Overture Center?

That question was posed to the Board of Estimates Monday night.

Overture representatives told city officials the center's financial problems were because of a bad stock market.

The Overture Center is asking the city to essentially co-sign a loan for nearly $17 million to keep the center in good standing.

The dilemna to the city is that if the stock market continues a bad streak, Madison taxpayers could see the money come out of their pockets.

Overture representatives reassured the city that if it decides not to help, philantrophist Jerry Frautchi's gift would pay for the building to be finished, but that other areas could suffer.

"What that would do is remove the income stream to provide additional dollars for the operation for the center," said Overture Development Corporation president George Austin. "At some point the city would have to find replacement funds."

"The best case scenario is we refinance, the market goes up and everythings fine," said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "But that entails a risk, and the question is do we want to take that risk."

Even if the Board of Estimates doesn't take the risk, eventually the money would need to come from other places, possibly taxes, gifts or higher rents.

The board is expected to make a decision Tuesday, May 17. If it decides to help, the City Council would have the final say later that night.

Overture Center: In Over Its Dome?

When the $205 million Overture Center opened in September, many hoped it would lead to more business and improvements downtown Madison. ( Special: Opening Overture Section )

On the flip side, some said that increasing property values and rising property taxes would raise rents for small shopkeepers and force them to move.

Now -- eight months later -- what's your assessment of the Overture Center? Have you been there? Will it eventually be able to support itself or will it be a drain on the city of Madison? ( Log on to our TALKBACK forum )