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Cities and counties ask Legislature to let voters decide sales taxes for centers, pools, trails and public-safety projects
Summary
A series of municipalities and counties presented local-option sales tax bills to the House Tax Committee asking to place referendums before voters for projects including a $75 million Owatonna community center, a $45 million Waseca judicial center, arena renovations in Rose and public works and pool projects — all were laid over for further review.
A wide range of local projects were presented to the House Tax Committee on April 15 as authors moved bills to allow local voters to decide on time-limited sales taxes. Among the requests:
- Owatonna (House File 3390): Author seeks authority for a one-half of one percent tax to raise up to $75 million for a regional community center. Proponents said plans include a task force with regional partners and that the facility would serve residents beyond city limits.
- Waseca County (House File 3813): A 1% sales tax was proposed to raise up to $45 million for a consolidated judicial center and jail replacement; county officials said the current jail is the state's oldest operating facility and highlighted a regional service footprint.
- Rose (House File 3583): The city requested up to $4.3 million for a new ammonia ice plant and mechanical upgrades to a historic Memorial Arena and a 27,000-square-foot wellness center; proponents said more than half of arena users live outside the city.
- Windham (House File 4324): The town asked for $8 million to rebuild a flood-damaged outdoor swimming pool; members questioned whether an outdoor pool meets the statute's "stand-alone structure" requirement and flagged precedent concerns.
- Hermantown (House File 4789): Officials sought authority to remove project caps from a voter-approved 2022 sales tax so previously approved trail work can be completed despite large cost increases; members said returning to voters may be required if project terms materially change.
- Forest Lake (House File 4053): A half-cent sales tax to fund a new public works facility that proponents say serves a large regional retail and commuter population.
- Austin (House File 3596): The city asked to extend an existing half-cent tax to raise $28.4 million for a new law enforcement center, citing regional traffic and daily inflow of nonresident users.
Common themes included claims of regional benefit, requests to spread capital costs to non-resident users, and member concerns about precedent, statutory fit and the cumulative budgetary impact. Authors repeatedly laid bills over for possible inclusion in an omnibus tax bill so the committee can further vet statutory compliance and regional demonstration requirements.
Outcome: Each bill was moved and laid over for possible inclusion; the committee requested clarifications where statutory tests or project caps raised questions.
