The Grand Forks council has set the date for a special election for extending a .75% sales tax for so-called quality of life projects. Voters will head to the polls November 14th to decide the fate of an aquatics center and indoor turf facility at a cost of some $100 million dollars.
Right now the tax supports the Alerus Center and is scheduled to sunset in 2029. Council member Rebecca Osowski tried to amend the ballot language to add a new sunset provision. That motion failed for a lack of a second.
Council President Dana Sande says a portion of the tax will still support the Alerus Center. Sande says he’s also thought about the possibility of using a portion of the tax to help the school district deal with future capital projects – although it’s prohibited by state law.
An analysis suggests the aquatics and turf facility would need additional revenues to cover annual operating deficits. User fees and naming rights would help cover that bill. The possibility of a .25 hospitality sales tax has also not been ruled out.
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