EGF voters could see sales tax question in November

Talk of enacting a city sales tax is heating up again in East Grand Forks.  The local tax is being touted as a way to pay for a series of Park and Rec improvements.

The council is currently looking at three options ranging from a 1% plan to a 1.5% increase.  The tax would generated between $14.8 million and $28.4 million dollars in project funds.

Parks Superintendent Reed Huttunen says East Grand Forks is not alone in looking at a local tax option.  “At the 2021 legislative session there were 20 Minnesota communities that received approval to vote on a sales tax increase for projects.  The Minnesota League of Cities has had correspondence withb12 others this year.”

Council member Clarence Vetter says anything over a one-percent increase would be hard on the retail sector.

The council needs to decide upon a specific amount by the end of January in order to seek legislative approval before a public vote in November 2022.