Twin Cities, MN – Sales Tax, Nov. 2017

Twin Cities, MN

Election Date: November 7, 2017
Type: Sales Tax
Revenue Type:
Transit Revenue Explanation:
Outcome: None
Results:

Officials are talking about ways to fund transportation projects across the state.  Last year, the Governor proposed a sales tax to fund Twin Cities transit, in hopes of freeing up state and federal funding for other transportation needs elsewhere in the state.  That unfortunately never materialized.  Currently, the five counties in the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) are considering dissolving the board to get around the state legislature, where republicans have largely blocked metro-area transit funding in recent years.  All CTIB members may collect a quarter-cent sales tax and a $20 motor-vehicle sales tax for transit funding.  Non-CTIB members, however, may collect up to a half-cent for transportation more generally, including roads and bridges.  While this means the possibility of some funding going to transit in the region, it also could mean that transit will be forced to fight for a cut of the general transportation pot in counties where road repair is more popular.  Furthermore, it could inhibit any sort of comprehensive regional approach to building a transit network in the Twin Cities.