Capitol View®

Hennepin County Board approves sales tax increase for Twins ballpark

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Hennepin County Board today, as expected, approved a countywide sales tax increase to help cover the costs of a new open air stadium for the Minnesota Twins.

After some heated debate from commissioners, the measure passed four-to-three, without the voter referendum usually required for such tax increases.

Some stadium opponents attended the meeting wearing T-shirts reading, "No taxation without representation -- except in Hennepin County."

One protester held a sign saying, "Make Carl Pohlad use his own money."

The tax increase works out to an additional three cents on a 20-dollar purchase. The zero-point-one-five percent sales tax will fund three-quarters of the 522 (m) million dollar project. Twins owner Carl Pohlad will pay the rest.