Local sales tax for new Beltrami County Jail passes Minnesota House

BEMIDJI — Legislation authorizing a local sales and use tax to help fund the new Beltrami County Jail has been passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives in a 128-2 vote, with the bill moving to the Senate for a final vote.

November saw Beltrami County voters overwhelmingly approve a 0.625% local option sales tax in a referendum to decide how the new jail project would be funded. The option for a sales tax won over the alternative increase in property taxes, taking in 96.84% of the votes .

“Nearly 97% of local voters supported this local initiative and it’s good the legislature honored the will of the people,” Rep. Matt Bliss, who represents Bemidji in the house and supported the bill, said in a release. “It’s hard for 97% to agree on just about anything these days so that public vote sent a rather clear message.”

https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/local-sales-tax-for-new-beltrami-county-jail-passes-minnesota-house