Title
Committing the City to exploring a new local option sales tax to fund critical investments in the future of Saint Paul and the region over the next 25 years.
Body
WHEREAS Saint Paul, as our Capital City, is a regional and statewide cultural, economic and governmental center that serves millions of residents, employees and visitors each year; and??
WHEREAS Saint Paul’s ability to support the regional economy is constrained by its need for critical investments in infrastructure and human capital; and
WHEREAS cities in Minnesota are severely limited by state law in their options to raise money, with property taxes being their primary funding source; and?
WHEREAS Saint Paul’s residents have experienced levy increases for nine of the last eleven years; and
WHEREAS while these levy increases have been necessary, changes in property values have resulted in property tax increases that have disproportionately impacted low-income neighborhoods; and?
WHEREAS local option sales taxes have been determined to be appropriate tools for cities to do work of regional significance that is beyond the capacity of their general funds; and
WHEREAS sales taxes can be made more progressive by using the revenue for programs that disproportionately benefit those with lower incomes; and
WHEREAS a sales tax of one penny on every dollar would generate approximately $36 million dollars a year and enable transformative investments in our Capital City, provide a lasting legacy for our residents, visitors and workers, and allow Saint Paul to fulfill its potential as a regional economic engine; and?
WHEREAS Saint Paul’s streets are traveled by millions of commuters and visitors each year, including four million annually to the State Fair and Como Zoo, over one and a half million to the Xcel Energy Center, and several hundred thousand to the State Capitol, in addition to the countless regional visitors to our highly rated restaurants, breweries, museums and theaters; and???
WHEREAS...
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