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 ba...
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