ROCHESTER, Minn. – Voters approved hiking the city sales tax by 0.5% to raise $205 million for long-term projects. The vote was 54% to 46%. The new revenue will allow the city to take out 24-year loans for:
> A new 90-acre regional sports and complex ($65 million).
> Economic vitality promotion ($50 million).
> Street reconstruction ($50 million).
> Flood control and water quality ($40 million).
The revised sales tax will be 8.6%. Promoters had argued that much of the new tax burden would fall on out-of-town visitors. The vote: 10,567 to 9,146
Earlier: Rochester Chamber backs sales tax