All aboard!

Pioneer Press Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:06:59 -0600
A steady source

The Ramsey County Board is expected to vote today to raise the county sales tax one-quarter of 1 percent to fund transit projects. We don't like to pay higher taxes. But this hike is part of a historic transportation-and-transit bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature last month. We support this modest increase as the best way to accelerate the move toward a modern, metrowide transit network. And we'll be looking for evidence the counties imposing the tax can spend the money in the best interests of the region as a whole. Today's scheduled vote is a result of the Legislature's override of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto a month ago. That decision raised the state's gasoline tax to help fix roads and bridges. It also authorized metro-area counties to impose a one-quarter-of-1-percent sales tax hike for transit projects. One-fourth of 1 percent equals 1 penny for every $4 spent. The increase will take effect July 1 and will be tacked on to the statewide sales tax of 6.5 percent. The city of St. Paul levies an extra half-percent for various projects, including debt on the St. Paul RiverCentre. Five of the seven core metro counties are expected to consider enacting the tax now, and others may join later. If all seven participate, the tax is estimated to raise approximately $100 million per year. ... If this is a good idea for Ramsey and Hennepin counties, it is a good idea for growing suburban counties that have the greatest need for transit assistance. We hope Washington County in particular, with its busy I-94 corridor, sees the larger regional benefit of imposing the tax and joining the joint powers board. The debate over light-rail transit changed when the Hiawatha line opened in 2004. The reality of the train has a way of overcoming some doubts. The Northstar commuter rail project from downtown Minneapolis to the northwest suburbs, expected to be running by late 2009, may have a similar effect. We need to keep the momentum going, and the Ramsey County Board's approval of the sales tax increase today is an important step.

[[keywords: PublicWorks;Officials;Metro;]]