Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and Hennepin
County Board members told Twins Owner Carl Pohlad yesterday
that they "have formed a partnership to develop a ballpark
finance plan they said won't require state money," according
to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Although no
details of the "unfinished plan" were disclosed, one of the
funding proposals being considered is a county-wide sales
tax. Belton also said that the sales tax plan "probably
wouldn't require the approval of Minneapolis voters" (STAR
TRIBUNE, 6/10). A local report stated that the plan being
considered calls for a one-half percent sales tax in
Hennepin County, which would raise about $70M per year.
Pohlad would be responsible for "up to" $125M (ST. PAUL
PIONEER PRESS, 6/10). A STAR TRIBUNE editorial states that
Minneapolis city leaders have "awakened to something that
only [St. Paul Mayor Norm] Coleman had seemed to recognize:
baseball's enormous potential for family entertainment,
community spirit and downtown revival" (STAR TRIBUNE, 6/10).
Meanwhile, Pohlad met with Coleman yesterday and toured five
potential ballpark sites in St. Paul (PIONEER PRESS, 6/10).
