Hennepin County board backs sales‑tax proposal to help regional hospitals
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Summary
The board unanimously approved a resolution expressing support for increasing county sales tax to stabilize Hennepin Healthcare, North Memorial and Target Field, with commissioners stressing urgency for repeatable funding as federal supports wane.
The Hennepin County Board on March 24 unanimously approved an addendum expressing support for a county sales‑tax increase intended to help stabilize Hennepin Healthcare System, North Memorial and Target Field.
Commissioner Conley, the motion’s sponsor, said the proposal reflects ongoing legislative work and a county strategy to secure dedicated revenue for the hospital: ‘‘We have been working very hard... to bring in the dedicated revenue that we need to save the hospital,’’ Conley said. Commissioner Lundy, co‑chairing intergovernmental relations remarks, warned the board has limited time to secure a legislative solution and said the county must prepare alternatives if the legislature does not act.
Several commissioners described the proposal as a last‑resort step to protect care and hospital jobs. Commissioner Anderson, noting the county’s role in legislative outreach, and Commissioner Green, who called the numbers ‘‘insane’’ in scale, both voiced support. Commissioner Conley highlighted the hospital’s workforce and its role in regional care.
The resolution is an expression of the board’s support for the sales‑tax approach to augment hospital funding and does not itself enact a tax. Commissioners said further legislative action and public process would be required before any tax change could take effect.
Votes at a glance: the board recorded the motion and carried it unanimously; no roll‑call vote list was read into the record at the committee session.
