Rochester's Half-Cent Sales Tax (new construction, schools, income)

[tornado9989]

Rochester could see even more new construction if the half-cent sales tax gets voted for again. The small tax (only an additional $0.05 on a $10 purchase) would give the city $140 million for new projects around the city, such as a new police/fire dispatch center, a new terminal at Rochester International Airport, new interchanges on highways, and more. A detailed list of all of the projects that would be funded and much more information about the tax can be found at Future Projects | Common Cents Rochester MN | Sales Tax Reauthorization. A simple list of projects can be found at List of local sales tax projects - Post Bulletin.

What do you think about the tax? It would definitely be beneficial to the city and the surrounding communities if it gets voted for.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by tornado9989

Rochester could see even more new construction if the half-cent sales tax gets voted for again. The small tax (only an additional $0.05 on a $10 purchase) would give the city $140 million for new projects around the city, such as a new police/fire dispatch center, a new terminal at Rochester International Airport, new interchanges on highways, and more. A detailed list of all of the projects that would be funded and much more information about the tax can be found at Future Projects | Common Cents Rochester MN | Sales Tax Reauthorization. A simple list of projects can be found at List of local sales tax projects - Post Bulletin.

What do you think about the tax? It would definitely be beneficial to the city and the surrounding communities if it gets voted for.

It sounds very similar to the SPLOST and TSPLOST taxes which are regularly enacted in the Atlanta metro for schools and transportation expenses respectively, though those tend to be in the form of a 1% sales tax which is somewhat larger than the one described above.

[Mdcastle]

Well, since you asked I'm against any sales tax in any form since unlike income taxes they're regressive. Jurisdictions keep tacking on these small percentages here and there on the theory "it's only a couple of cents". but it's still real money, and it adds up. The new interchanges Rochester wants are primarily for economic developement, not congestion relief or safety, so it seems that property taxes would be a good way to pay for them if Rochester thinks they're so important to be bumped out of order on the statewide priority list.

[my54ford]

Since their utility has wasted multiple millions of dollars in the last 10 years they need something to make up the loose!!

[tornado9989]

The sales tax was passed.