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Chisago county currently has a half-cent sales tax in effect and last week the County Board agreed to ask the state for enabling legislation to bring this to a full cent. The county has collected around $3.6 million from the half-cent tax revenues and staff told the commissioners this would go to $7.2 million if doubled.  Revenues would continue to be designated for road and bridge expenditures.

Commissioner Marlys Dunne remarked, “This could go a long way towards funding the TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan.)”  The TIP lays out a number of long range projects that are eligible for utilizing this sales tax in Chisago County, if approved.

The Board discussed some of the surrounding counties’ tax levels and most but not all, impose at least a half-cent local sales tax.  Washington County went to a full cent on every dollar for its local taxing authority. The City of Forest Lake has an additional local sales tax as well.

The state legislature needs to be consulted under state law and lawmakers need a list of projects that are designated to use the proceeds, which Chisago County Board did last week, with Commissioner Jim Swenson participating by Internet.

Staff will send the tax request and documentation to state lawmakers and attach a minimum of five road and bridge related projects as examples of uses of the proceeds.

Commissioner Ben Montzka noted the sales tax is more egregious on a low income person’s budget than a wealthier individual’s and termed it “regressive” but he did support the action.  Commissioner Dan Dahlberg voiced his opinion that sales tax is more “fair” than property tax which the county can not keep relying on for income.  He added, no taxation is totally “fair.”

Chisago County also has a “wheelage” tax on vehicles registered in this county of $20.

In other business:

The Board approved calling for bids for the land on the shores of South Center Lake where the jail once stood.  The property is a few hundred feet east of the Government Center.  Details on deadlines and bidding etc. are on the county website.

A request for a rezoning of  the lot at 52153 Rush Lake Trail was approved. The owner said he needs a residential designation rather than agricultural zone in order to comply with out building setbacks.

The county now has an official street naming policy.  Several cities have delegated naming duties within their own boundaries, to the county.

Streets with names that are not “approved” will be grandfathered in and there are no name changes anticipated.  But future developments will submit names on a form,  for the GIS supervisor to review and enter into the emergency systems databases.  

The next County Board meeting there will be agenda items for the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail, the Environmental Services Director promised.  There is underbrush that needs to be cleared and it’s best to “get a jump on that” in cold weather.  He added the large box culvert needed to navigate a  swale in the trail needs to be special ordered,  and this will be one of the expenditures the Board will be asked to authorize.

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