What do you think about Scott County adopting a 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation and transit projects?

I am NOT in favor of this additional tax! They have already doubled the “wheelage tax” and now they want even more?

Raising the sales tax will most certainly result in my family not shopping in Scott County. As it sits now, while it’s more convenient for me to shop in Burnsville, I shop in Savage because of the lower sales tax rate. If Scott County raises the sales tax I will most defiantly go back to shopping in Burnsville, especially if they are looking at a .5% increase in sales tax. In my case, increasing the sales tax will result in less tax revenue for Scott County.

We are taxed enough!

I would approve a 1/2 cent tax only for roads to be repaired and updated. NO trains. Not enough people ride them and they can only survive with tax payers paying most of the fare. Buses are flexible, carry more people, are cost effective, do not block intersections, do not destroy businesses on routes, and do not destroy vegetation, animal habitat, and trees.
I am tired of taxes, taxes. We need to be smart about spending money and not pick the most expensive options unless necessary.
Most Americans need their cars and will use them. Not public transportation.

I am against this. The taxe increases at both state and federal level these last few years is stunning. And rather than ask citizens for a increase, with no context, rather give them the options. What cost shifting options are available? What else could we stop to do this instead? If you want government engagement by the us all, give us the options so we can make informed choices. Vs. a simple "yes or no" on a single request. That's bad process. Bad government.

Having had the opportunity to have lived in a number of other Midwest states, I will say that in Minnesota we are already drowning in all sorts of taxes & fees compared to other states with very similar services, education, and quality of life. So I say NO to the proposed sales tax.
Scott county and the state of Minnesota need to learn how to live within their means. While more funds are certainly needed to improve our highway infrastructure, those funds must come at the expense of other programs as other states have done.
Scott County's business owners should know that I consider myself very lucky. Since my work takes me through several other states, as certain taxes have increased I have already been able to shift some of my purchases to states with realistic taxation policies. I am sure that I and others like me can shift even more of our business if this sales tax increase is approved!

I am against an increase in the sales tax for transportation and transit projects. Scott County currently has around an $80M operating budget. It is very convenient to ask for new taxes to grow the government sector instead of doing the responsible thing and remove waste from the current budget. Like a commenter posted earlier, the sales tax has increased from 3% to 7.125% in MN. If this passes, what do you think will happen the next time Scott County is given the ability to raise taxes? Do you truly believe 0.5% is it?

The argument that since Anoka and Hennepin Counties are already taxing non-residents on goods and services to pay for their roads means Scott should do the same thing is absurd. We have the choice to travel where we want to travel, and to purchase goods and services where we want to purchase them. If you are mad that they are getting your money to “improve” transportation in their counties and we in Scott aren’t, then stop purchasing things in those counties and support business in Scott County.

It seems to me a few years back there was a similar sales tax hike that was approved by the voters that was suppose to be used to fix our roads. But, the money from this tax hike is not being used to fix roads, but is being funneled to mass transit. And now, our MN government is borrowing money in the form of bonds to fix our roads. If this tax money had been used for it's initial purpose, perhaps we wouldn't need to be asking for more money from the tax payer. So my vote is a big "NO", until our government can be honest and do what the tax payers asked this money be used for.

I request that the Scott County Sales Tax increase be disapproved. Minnesota already has one of the highest State tax rates in the nation. Since the Minnesota Sales Tax was implemented in Scott County it has increased 240%, from 3% to 7.125%. The future tax increases can be approximated based on the rate of past change over time. If the trend continues, our children will be paying about 17% Minnesota Sales Tax by 2060. So how will Scott County get to a 17% sales tax? It's by a little increase here, and a little increase there, again and again. I think the current tax rate is sufficient to provide an outstanding quality of life in Scott County. I ask the County government to use the current tax rate effectively, innovatively, and wisely; and not increase the current rate.

I am for it. It will help us get better roads and bridges.

I support the adoption of the 1/2 cent sales tax for the dedicated purpose of transportation & transit projects. Population growth in Scott County necessitates a more robust plan for maintaining and improving our transportation system. This plan must be adequately funded over a sustained period of time. Funding cannot be left to the whims of the political system if we expect significant improvement in our system. Having this type of new tax spreads the burden among all users - those who live in Scott County and those who pass through to work/play/etc. Almost all other Metro counties have seen their way clear to levy taxes dedicated to transportation - it is time Scott County did the same.

Scott County has said for 25 years that roads and transit are its priority. We finally have a chance to get dedicated funds to help pay for these projects and people freak out about "new" taxes, not realizing that they pay that exact same tax whenever they leave Scott County. It would be short-sighted to leave this potential money "on the table," especially when visitors to our entertainment venues would pay the bulk of it. Scott County has always been extremely fiscally conservative, but not jumping on this opportunity because of the rants of "hard working citizens" would be stupid.