Commentary: Citizens group opposes latest tribal trust application

The proposal by City Manager Frank Boyles and Mayor Ken Hedberg for more tax-free land for the SMSC is a big deal. It’s also a bad deal that only gets worse with time. It’s time for straight talk instead of double talk. Consider these eye-opening facts.

City staff estimated a future loss of $1.25 million per year in local tax revenue on the 200 acres the SMSC wants in tax-free trust, land the SMSC stated would be used for commercial and residential development. No one is mentioning the grossly larger potential tax loss on another 2,000 acres that we’ve learned the SMSC has purchased. The SMSC also intend to put this acreage (all in and around Prior Lake) into tax-free trust. If 200 developed acres can generate $1.25 million in local taxes, could the tax loss on 2,000 acres be 10 times as much, or $12.5 million? Nobody is talking, but whatever the loss, it would be forever if the land goes into trust.

http://www.swnewsmedia.com/prior_lake_american/news/opinion/commentary-citizens-group-opposes-latest-tribal-trust-application/article_dc4bcc70-4f50-5bc0-9cc3-f11cfc160697.html