Bill > HF387

This bill authorizes the city of Blaine to impose up to three percent special taxes within a specific geographic area known as the 105th Redevelopment Area. The city can implement three types of taxes: a tax on restaurant food and beverage gross receipts, a tax on lodging receipts for hotels with more than 50 rooms, and a tax on admission to amusement or athletic events. These taxes can only be used to finance capital improvements in the designated area, including paying for bonds, acquiring and constructing facilities, and maintaining reserves. The bill allows the city to issue bonds for development projects without counting against existing debt limitations, and these bonds are exempt from certain standard levy restrictions. The taxes will be collected similarly to state sales taxes and cannot be terminated before January 1, 2055. The city may work with the state commissioner of revenue to collect these taxes, and they will be subject to the same enforcement provisions as standard state sales taxes. The bill becomes effective after the city's governing body complies with specific legal notification requirements.