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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Saint Paul leaders refuse to give up food-drink tax

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posted by Bob at Thursday, May 24, 2007

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Blogger Bob said...

St. Paul leaders refuse to give up on food-drink tax
Legislature rejected 3% levy, but mayor says it's needed if state aid cuts aren't reversed
BY TIM NELSON
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 05/23/2007 11:12:31 PM CDT


State lawmakers took a proposed 3 percent food and beverage tax in St. Paul off the table during this year's legislative session, but city leaders are tucking the idea away for next year.

Mayor Chris Coleman would back a sales tax increase if the Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty don't reverse cuts in state aid to cities, a Coleman spokesman said.

"The mayor would support a food and beverage tax in the absence of local government aid restoration and will remain open to any option that allows us to responsibly govern the city," said Bob Hume, the mayor's spokesman.

Only two of the current and prospective City Council members polled by the Pioneer Press this week ruled out raising the sales tax if the Legislature gives them the authority in a future session.

Ward 3 City Council Member Pat Harris and likely 2nd Ward challenger Bill Hosko were the only council members or candidates who specifically said they would not support the tax increase.

The city, which currently collects a half-cent general sales tax, has been eyeing an increase for years. The Coleman administration considered a legislative request for an additional half-cent general sales tax as recently as October. Beginning in 2001, food and beverage taxes were part of the city's proposed financing for a Minnesota Twins stadium.

An amendment to this year's final tax bill, made by state Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, at 3 a.m. Monday, would have authorized the city to collect the 3 percent food and beverage levy and waived a statutory requirement for a referendum on new sales taxes, just as lawmakers did for the Twins stadium tax in Hennepin County.

But lawmakers dropped the idea later in the day, after bar and restaurant owners objected and others complained about the last-minute, middle-of-the-night nature of the proposal.

City officials estimate it would have raised about $3.5 million annually.

A threatened veto of the existing tax bill by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, however, would eliminate much more: a proposed $9 million hike in local government aid for the city in the last bill passed by lawmakers.

Annual state funding to St. Paul has slumped recently by more than $16 million, down from $74 million in 2003. Existing law cuts state aid by another $2 million, to less than $58 million for 2008.

"It's an outrage, what they're doing to us," 5th Ward Council Member Lee Helgen said.

The city would have to raise property taxes by 3 percent to make up for the state aid cut and another 21 percent to keep up with current spending, adjusted for inflation.

It's not a question of whether city government in St. Paul is going to cost more, only who is going to pay for it, according to Council President Kathy Lantry.

Unpopular as a food and drink tax might be, it is the only option, short of state aid, that would shift any of the burden from property taxes to non-resident diners and drinkers who work in or visit the city, Lantry said. It might also capture some additional revenue from next year's Republican National Convention, she noted.

But Lantry also acknowledged the downside of picking up the slack in state aid on a local basis.

"If you replace the revenue where the state has fallen down on their responsibility, there's nothing keeping them from raising the tax to 5 percent next time, or just saying we'll authorize the local tax for everybody."

Others, though, wonder if the tax would even help.

Ward 5 council candidate David Haas declined to say whether he would vote for or against the tax, but worried that a new levy might cut into what tax revenue the city gets now from its bars and restaurants.

"There may be just as many people who say they'll just go somewhere else," Haas said.

But the city's options for more money are few. Officials say further shifts from property taxes to street assessments are impractical, that they're already doing all they can to grow the tax base and that double-digit property tax increases year after year are politically untenable.

"It wouldn't be my first choice," said 1st Ward candidate and DFL endorsee Melvin Carter. "But I'd have to consider all options before I'd consider closing a library, laying off a cop or shutting a recreation center."

Tim Nelson can be reached at tnelson@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1159

8:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beverage Tax - Coleman, Lantry, Helgen are at it again: Tax, Tax and more taxes

1. "The mayor would support a food and beverage tax.

1. The people will go to W.St.Paul then, or else ware to do any thing.
Remember when the smoking banded in St. Paul?
Our St.Paul Bar lost business, and our town was really a gave yard.

2. "It's an outrage, what they're doing to us," 5th Ward Council Member Lee
Helgen said.

2. Tear down all the homes, New or Old and start over.
Affordable home can be the thing of the pass.

3. The city would have to raise property taxes by 3 percent.

3. They just give themselves a another pay raise, so what next?
The elderly forced out of their home, then they will be homeless.
Then people will say, Put them in a nursing home.

Who Care About Them?

I Do.
I am going to do what I do Best, "FIGHT CITY HALL" !

I have been saying scene 1996, about the MISUSE of the TAX DOLLAR $$$$$$$$$$$

Enough Is ENOUGH !
You all are a bunch of spineless people, that think the people in charge of St.Paul Government are
"GOOD" people.
B. S.

Wake up St.Paul>>>>>>>>
its time to Stop Smelling their butts, and change who's in it.
I have been saying what you all are saying now, scene 1995.

Thune and I have been brow beating each other, from 1996 to now

The Democratic Party NEED to tear down everything, so they can build NEW junk that does not last as
long to keep the union strong.
The union is, The DFL aka Democratic Party.
THINK ABOUT IT !
Remember Ramsey Action Program aka RAP, was installing BAD Insulation in peoples homes.
YOU out there did not care, it wasn't your home.
Now every one is asking the same thing, "WHAT's GIONG ON WITH OUT TAXES ?

Bill Dahn For Ward 2
Change The Government NOW.
This GABBY LINE WILL SO STOP PEOPLE, FROM VOICING THEIR VIEWS.

Just so the people running this E-D stays Fund.
Here's what I sent out and others made a BIG DEAL out of it.


WOW
http://www.mnblue.com/thune_must_be_scared_now



Thanks For The memories !

Bill Dahn
For Council >>> WARD 2


http://www.billdahn.blogspot.com

9:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If I LOSE one inch of my Belt Line because I can't afford as much food, I PROMISE I WILL GO DOWN TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND TAKE A DUMP ON THE FLOOR DURING A COUNCIL MEETING.

9:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't believe it.....an intelligent post from Bill Dahn. A miracle has happened here folks and it give hope that ANYONE can change and be helped. I hope he don't have a relapse!

Hey Bill? What do you think as a candidate for Council about extending that bar and restaurant tax to insulation also?

12:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Senator Phil Krinkie, is nice to people, and I would like to see him in the governor seat.
He always has a nice friendly stile, of a person who cares for the average Joe.
Miracles could happen if he's elected. Does any one remember the 12 year old girl hit and dragged 1/4 mile from Robert and Wentworth in
W. St. Paul?
She lost a arm, and she just was release from the hospital just lately.

Drinking Impairs' Judgement.
Senator Metzen was driving "DRUNK" with a legal weapon in his hands, that is a car.
HE as a law maker knows right from wrong, and still broke the law.
We should make a example of him, and put him in jail.
His sister-in-law is a Dakota County Judge, and watch the case very closely.
I will see if he get the maximum time in jail, and see that he is watched with a "eagles eye".
Knowing the law and breaking it, is like laughing in the face of the police.
No one is above the LAW, I am a driver who does not like to see accidents.
A accident is accidental, but driving while drunk is the same a have a loaded GUN and playing Russian roulette.
Russian roulette is a lethal form of gambling in which participants place a single round in a chamber of a revolver and, spinning the cylinder such that the location of the round is unknown, take turns putting the weapon to their temples (heads) and pulling the trigger until the weapon discharges.
Drunken Driving is that same idea.
What if he ran a red light and hit a car, that had 6 people in it and they all died?
What if it was Metzen that hit our great car, and family and they were injured.
Some people's injured in a car crash, it could be life and death.
NO one deserves to be injured, and drunks are the most dangerous people on earth.

Bill Dahn is a non drinker, and a non smoker,
So --- How many drinks??? do the people the work at city hall, have at "lunch"????
The Judges, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Mayor. Council Persons, Police Chief, Police Officers,
Code Enforcement, and so on ?

Impaired Judgement is what we have working for us, in all parts of government.

9:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forget all this superficial stuff Bill.....lets talk insulation! Would you be willing to put a tax on it like the city wants to do with the bars?

12:11 AM  

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