Special St. Cloud City Council Meeting Monday to Finalize November Ballot Questions

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council will meet on Monday to finalize the wording on two questions on the November ballot asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax and a property tax increase.

St. Cloud wants to use the half-cent sales tax to pay for $21.1 million in upgrades to the Municipal Athletic Complex. The project would include a 30,000 to 40,000 square foot addition, locker rooms, training areas, pregame areas, storage, artificial turf to Dick Putz and Joe Faber field, maintenance upgrades, and additional paved parking. Officials plan to collect the tax for five years to pay for the renovations.

The city received $10 million from the 2020 Minnesota bonding bill for the improvements. It was given authority by the legislature to go to the voters to ask for the sales tax to pay back the bonds. If approved, St. Cloud would like to start construction in 2023.

The city council will also approve wording on a ballot question asking for a property tax increase to raise $20 million to make improvements and develop trails, add new parkland and make improvements to existing parks. According to the meeting agenda, the maximum amount the levy would increase property taxes would be 0.0271 percent.

The special city council meeting is set for Monday at 6:00 p.m.

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