Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Pull Rochester Sports Complex Funding
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A local lawmaker has introduced a bill to pull legislative approval of use of money raised by Rochester’s sales tax to fund a regional sports complex.
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State lawmakers previously signed off on Rochester putting a referendum extending its sales tax on the ballot in 2023. 56% of voters approved extending the tax.
Money raised would go towards an economic vitality fund, street repair and flood control. The referendum approved by voters also called for $65 million of sales tax revenue to fund a regional sports complex.
In December, State Representatives Kim Hicks, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith, along with State Senator Liz Bolden said they would introduce bills that would revoke the use of Rochester's local sales tax for the Regional Sports Complex project.
Read More: Rochester Lawmakers Threaten to Pull Sports Complex Funding
They have argued the current plan, “serves a narrow set of special interests and ignores the community’s need for indoor recreation space.”
They also say the public was deceived about the cost of building a complex featuring indoor and outdoor facilities. Current city estimates indicate the overall project has a $120 million cost.
So far the City of Rochester has allocated about $60 million towards the project.
Sen. Liz Boldon Introduces Bill to Stop Funding Rochester Regional Sports Complex
On Monday, Sen. Liz Boldon of Rochester formally introduced a bill into the State Senate that calls for shifting funds away from the complex that were already collected by the sales tax.
The proposed legislation includes a measure that would stop collections of sales tax revenue for the sports complex on June 30.
Funds already collected and money that would be collected until June 30 would be reallocated to the three other components of the sales tax referendum.
Bill Calls for Diminishing Caps on Rochester Sales Tax
Boldon’s bill would also change the duration of the sales tax collection. Voters approved keeping the tax in place for either 24 years or until it raised $205 million.
The proposed legislation calls for lowering the dollar amount to $140 million and dropping the cap in years to 20.
The bill was introduced in the Senate Taxes Committee.
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