[Mpls] Re: Dean Carlson's post on the stadium

[Allen]

I'm curious as to how referendum's come into play in this situation 
under current law.  I'm hoping someone can better explain the details of 
current MInnesota law.  It's my understanding that for certain capital 
projects, if a city is going to fund them by issueing bonds that a 
petition can be circulated to hold a vote on the issue.  I believe they 
need to collect 5% of the signatures of voters in the most recent 
election.  NOw I'm not sure what the exact details are for this.  This 
is not something proposed though, it's something on the books.  I'd be 
curious to know how it could, if at al, come into play since the county 
would be issuing the bonds.

Allen Graetz
Lowry Hill
MPLStown




Bruce Shoemaker wrote:

> Dean's argument lacks reference to a couple of points:  First, the 
> voters of Minneapolis have already passed a referendum saying that 
> they do not want their representatives to spend significant public 
> money on a stadium.  That clearly differentiates it from LRT, the 
> Guthrie and other proposals he references.  Secondly, we are talking 
> about a tax increase to raise funds for a specific project.  This is 
> not just a new or realigned expenditure within our existing overall 
> tax structure and budget--obviously the types of decision our 
> representatives have to make all the time without  being expected to 
> bring each proposed expenditure to the voters.  But when sales or 
> property taxes for specific new initiatives or projects are proposed 
> there is much more of an expectation that the voters will be 
> consulted.  It happens with school levies all the time.  It happened 
> with library funding, (which passed by the way--having a referendum 
> doesn't have to be a deal-killer it just means that the proponents 
> have to make a convincing case to the voters before taking their 
> money).  It may happen with the proposed tax increase for public 
> safety funding.  Why not for the stadium proposal?
>
> For something that has been in the works for years and years why is 
> the "delay" a referendum would cause a deal-killer?  Stadium 
> proponents have not clearly made the case for the need to rush this.  
> What aspect of the deal will really collapse?  If State action is 
> needed this legislative session it could be done but contingent on a 
> referendum.  I don't think the Twins will abandon a deal they have 
> been pursuing for years just by having to wait a few more months for 
> the voters to approve the deal.
> Let's be honest.  The real fear is that a referendum wouldn't pass.
>
> Bruce Shoemaker
> Holland Neighborhood
>
> ------------------------------
>
>> Message: 9
>> Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 10:04:17 -0500
>> From: "Dean Carlson" <Freealonzo at mn.rr.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re:  stadium
>> To: <mpls at mnforum.org>
>> Message-ID: <006601c54d95$e195e490$03a25c46 at hppav>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Did we get to vote on Light Rail Transit?  You think that would have 
>> passed
>> a referendum in Hennepin County?  How about relocating the Guthrie and
>> paying for that?  I don't remember having a say on that either or even
>> anyone calling for a referendum.  If there was a proposal for a 1/2 cent
>> sales tax to support affordable housing, should that go in front of the
>> voters and how do you think it would turn out?  Does that mean these 
>> are bad
>> ideas or that they were rammed down our throats?  No.
>>
>> The bottom line is that everyone wants to have a referendum when they 
>> are
>> against something and are against a referendum when they are for it.  
>> The
>> lack of a referendum has nothing to do with the merit or legitimacy 
>> of the
>> proposal.
>>  
>>
>
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