Title
Amending the local option sales tax ballot question language to be presented to the voters and directing the appropriate officials to take all necessary steps to place the amended ballot question on the November 7, 2023 general election ballot.
Body
WHEREAS, Minnesota Law, Chapter 64, Article 10, Section 2, subd. 1a, authorizes the City of Saint Paul, if approved by the voters at an election, to impose by ordinance a sales and use tax of one percent (“1.0%”) to pay the costs of collecting and administering the tax and to finance all or part of the following projects in the city: streets, bridges, capital improvements to parks and recreation facilities, plus an amount needed for securing and paying debt services on bonds issued to finance the projects; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Saint Paul approved the Special law through RES 23-926; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 297A.99 subdivision 3 requires that imposition of a local sales tax is subject to approval by voters of the City at a general election within the two-year period after the City has received authority to impose the tax; and
WHEREAS, Laws 2023, Chapter 64, Article 10, Section 2, Subd. 1a allows the City to present one question on the ballot for all projects authorized under the Special Law as long as the question states each project proposed to be funded by the tax, the amount for each project proposed to be funded with the tax, and the estimated length of time the tax will be in effect for each project; and
WHEREAS, on July 19, 2023, the Saint Paul City Council passed RES 23-1073 adopting language to be placed on the November 7, 2023 ballot seeking voter input on a new 1% sales and use tax; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend the ballot question language and resubmit it to the County Auditor to have it placed on the November 7, 2023 ballot; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 205.16 requires that the City Clerk provide to the County Auditor written notice of a ballot question on or before a date at least 74 days prior to the election, which is on or before August 25, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the written notice must include the title and language for the ballot question; and
WHEREAS, the City’s legal counsel has approved the ballot question title; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is directed to notify the County Auditor to place the ballot question on the November 7, 2023 ballot before August 25, 2023; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the appropriate City officials are authorized and directed to take all necessary steps to place this ballot question on the November 7, 2023 general election ballot; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the title and amended language of the ballot question as follows:
Title: 1.0% SALES TAX FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO STREETS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS
Should the City of Saint Paul establish a one percent (1%) sales and use tax over the next 20 years to generate $738,000,000 to repair and improve streets and bridges, $246,000,000 to improve parks and recreation facilities, and associated bonding costs?
A vote YES means repairs and improvements to streets, bridges, parks, and recreation facilities would be funded through a new one percent (1%) sales and use tax.
A vote NO means repairs and improvements to streets, bridges, parks, and recreation facilities would not be funded through a new one percent (1%) sales and use tax.