[Mpls] State Law requires a referendum for a local sales tax increase

[Dann Dobson]

Earlier today, the question came up about the requirement of a referendum when a local sales tax is to be increased. I tried to post this earlier, but it was too big. 
 
State law is quite clear;  Minnesota Statute Annotated 297A.99. - Local Sales Taxes, requires a referendum be held when any local sales tax increase is proposed. 

Subdivision 3(a) of this law specifically states:  

"Imposition of a local sales tax is subject to
approval by voters of the political subdivision at a
general election."

See: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/297A/99.html
 
Thus before any new sales tax can be imposed in Hennepin County to finance a new Twins Stadium, or any project, there must be a referendum in Hennepin County. 
 
However the way the stadium proponents have tried in the past to get around this requirement is by throwing in one line, usually buried deep in the stadium bill, that appears totally innocuous on it's face that says, "MSA 297A.99 shall not apply to this legislation".
 
The word "referendum" is never mentioned  and the need for a public vote on the tax increase vanishes like fog on a sunny morning.

Why do the Twins and the Hennepin County Board members, who are pushing the latest Twins plan, oppose a referendum? That's easy. Polls by the Strib  show that the vast majority of state residents and a higher percentage of Hennepin County voters would vote against the current stadium plan if it were to be put to a vote today. 

Two times the issue has been put to a vote of Minnesota citizens. In 1997 the voters of Minneapolis placed a $10 million cap on City expenditures for sports facilities and in 1999 St. Paul voters rejected a 1/2 sales tax increase for a new Twins Stadium. 
 
Any stadium legislation, which increases local sales taxes for a sports facility, whether it is the Twins in Hennepin County, or the Vikings in Anoka County, should be put to a vote of the citizens as current state law now requires.
 
Minneapolis and Hennepin County legislators need to hear that MSA 297A.99 requiring a referendum be left in place.

Dann Dobson
Executive Director - No Stadium Tax Coalition
651-227-4376
www.NoStadiumTax.com
dddobson1 at yahoo.com

 




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