EGF leaders lobby MN lawmakers over sales tax

East Grand Forks officials got a chance to score some points before a Minnesota House panel this week.

Mayor Steve Gander and Parks Superintendent Reid Huttenen appeared before the House Property Tax Division Committee to explain the need for a 1.25% city sales tax.  The money would fund arena improvements and upgrades to baseball facilities.

Huttenen told the committee that it’s not the city’s first go around with a local sales tax.  “In 2015 our voters by more than a 70% margin approved a 1% sales tax to fund renovations to the swimming pool.  We expected to take five years to for that pool project to be paid in full.  It was paid in full in less than three years.”

The committee laid the request over for possible inclusion in the property tax division report.  Legislative approval is needed in order for the city to put the issue on the ballot in November.