07-27-11 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Format Dynamics :: CleanPrint :: http:// www. twineities .com /ci_13423791 ?IAD(D= Searc... Page 1 o['3 TwinCfties coM St, Pau] mayor urges Ramsey County peers to oppose sales tax for Minnesota Vikings stadium By Sarah Horner and Frederick Moto Pioneer Press (Iodated:: 07/07/2011 09:32:09 PM Cb'r St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is calling on the mayors of 15 Ramsey County cities to help him derail plans for a 0.5 percent countywide sales tax to help fund a proposed Minnesota Vikings stadium in Arden Hills. His tool? A form letter. Coleman on Wednesday emailed a "call to action" to more than 30 city officials from Arden Hills, Shoreview, Lauderdale, North St. Paul, Maplewood and other Ramsey County communities, asking them to write letters of opposition to the governor's office, county commissioners and state lawmakers. The email includes a suggested form letter to the governor's office, as well as a sample resolution, similar to the one approved Wednesday by the St. Paul City Council opposing the proposed sales tax. "While the Vikings may be a statewide asset, the residents and businesses of just one county should not solely bear the burden of financing their new facility," Coleman's letter states. "The City of [CITY] continues to face many challenges similar to that of the State of Minnesota. Revenue continues to decrease as costs continue to rise. The mortgage foreclosure crisis is not over, and unemployment remains high. Adding a half -cent sales tax to businesses and residents to fund a statewide asset is unfair and inequitable." Elected officials in cities throughout the county said they would likely begin discussing Coleman's letter next week. Kathy Lantry, president of the St. Paul City Council, also reached out via email with a similar equest to officials throughout the county. Lantry led a brief discussion Wednesday among St. Paul council members before passage of the anti -tax resolution, which has no official power to block the tax. Nevertheless, St. Paul officials hope it will send a strong message to state lawmakers about public sentiment. The resolution notes that St. Paul businesses and shoppers would be forced to shoulder $165 million - or 52 percent - of the $350 million likely to be generated by the sales tax for the proposed $1.1 billion Vikings stadium in Arden Hills. The tax is equivalent to an added nickel on every $10 purchase. "A half -cent sales tax for a stadium in Arden Hills doesn't provide a benefit for the city of St. Paul," said 3rd Ward council member Pat Harris. Not every member of the public agrees. Dave Garza, 40, of St. Paul left the council meeting disappointed. "When we win that Super Bowl, it will be a benefit to everybody," said Garza, who sports a large Vikings tattoo on his belly and an American Flag on his back. In an interview, Vikings vice president Lester Bagley said the $350 million generated by the Ramsey County tax would be equivalent to what Hennepin County contributed toward the new Minnesota Twins stadium in Minneapolis via a 0.15 percent sales tax. "We appreciate St. Paul's feedback, but Ramsey .Scto.cd (to 'w : "a s For 811N occasion fit } 1([1 ults tn)tll - 9 99 1, h5 /11 1'1'OE` It)vv('t S Otter ONLY a vailabto aI: proflowers.corn /happy or call 1.8,7 7.804.1133 Print Powered By Itttp: / /www.twincities.com /fdcp ?unique= 1310134491319 4 7/8/2011