Hennepin County Board Approves Sales Tax For Twins Ballpark

The Hennepin County (MN) Board by a 4-3 vote endorsed a countywide sales tax increase to help build a 42,000-seat, $478M ballpark for the Twins in downtown Minneapolis, according to Kaszuba & McKinney of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Much of the debate on the issue “centered on the plan’s most controversial aspect -– a provision that would exempt the stadium plan from a referendum.” Stadium proponents urged Hennepin County “to move rapidly for legislative approval to levy” the additional 0.15% sales tax, which could run up to 30 years and amount to $0.03 for every $20 purchase in the county. The ballpark would include a $125M contribution from the Twins, and would not feature a retractable roof “unless the state contributed the extra” $100M cost. The stadium could be completed by ’09 (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/4).

Hennepin County Board Approves Tax Increase For New Twins Ballpark

UP FOR A VOTE? In St. Paul, Kahn & Silver note the Minnesota state Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty “must consider allowing the board to levy the tax and give it the exemption it seeks from the usual requirement of a voter referendum. Should that permission come before legislative adjournment May 23, the County Board once again would have to vote to formally levy the tax” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/4). MLB.com’s Patrick Donnelly notes the Legislature’s authorization of the tax is “no guarantee, and the state could make enough changes to the language and terms of the proposal that by the time the issue is back in the county’s hands, it might not vote to give its final approval” (MLB.com, 5/4).