Description

Member Monthly Luncheon:

Hermantown’s Community Recreation Initiative

At this month's luncheon we're going to find out more about the three component projects to target improved health outcomes in our region.

It's designed to create greater recreation options across a spectrum of opportunities, be funded by an additional half-percent sales tax and it will be decided on November 8 by Hermantown voters.

We hope you will join us for this important luncheon featuring representatives from the city and committee.  You'll get a chance to hear more about it, ask your questions and get answers.  We're helping to keep business and community in unity.

John Mulder, City of Hermantown City Administrator & Hermantown Economic Development Assoc. (HEDA) Board Member

Joe Wicklund, City of Hermantown Communications & Community Engagement Director

Chad Ronchetti, Kraus-Anderson Construction Project Planning & Development Director, & Hermantown Economic Development Assoc. (HEDA) Board Member

FAQS:

Q: What is the Community Recreation Initiative?

A: The Community Recreation Initiative is the idea that, as a city, we need greater access to healthy, outdoor, community-building opportunities. The component projects of the initiative include the completion of the Hermantown Connector Trail System, a reimagining of Fichtner Park, and the addition of a second sheet of indoor ice. 

Q: So are the projects and questions linked or can one or two pass if others fail?

A: One, two, or three of the projects can pass and the sales tax increase would be the same. While the projects are all related – as part of the Community Recreation Initiative – they do not have to be passed together for one or two of them to become a reality. Each question/project needs 50 percent, plus one, of the votes to move forward.

Q: How much of sales tax is actually paid by Hermantown residents?

A: At least 75% of the sales tax in Hermantown is paid by non-residents, if not more. The University of Minnesota recently completed a local sales tax study and determined that less than a quarter of all the annual sales tax revenue in Hermantown is generated by Hermantown residents.

Q: What does a half percent sales tax increase actually mean?

A: On taxable goods in Hermantown, the sales tax rate would increase from 8.375% to 8.875%. This additional funding would be reserved for whichever of the three component projects of the Community Recreation Initiative pass. Sales tax does not apply to all items – gas, groceries, clothing, motor vehicles, and more are exempt from sales tax. A complete list of nontaxable items can be found at this link. A helpful way to think of the impact of a half percent increase is that for every $100 spent on taxable goods, an additional 50 cents will be dedicated to this increase. For every $10, it would be 5 cents, and for every dollar spent, it would be half of a penny.

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