Newsmakers: Sen. Ann Rest Talks Bill To Repurpose Ballpark Sales Tax
Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) says there’s an opportunity to repurpose the funds that come from a sales tax that helped pay for Target Field.
“We want to be thoughtful in the planning of that,” said Rest, who co-sponsors the bill to renew the agreement.
State lawmakers approved the sales tax in 2006 that helped pay for Target Field.
“[The Ballpark] is managed by a public authority, so it’s a public project,” said Rest.
Some of the money generated from the sales tax have gone to Hennepin County Youth Sports Grants that have benefited local projects, like adding soccer fields to the Fair School Park in Crystal or improvements to Lee Park in Robbinsdale. See story here.
An artist’s rendering of the soccer field at the Fair School Park in Crystal.
Hennepin County Library has also benefited from the money.
“It particularly has been making sure that we are increasing the number of hours that the library is open, so it gives much more flexible access to library patrons in the metro area,” said Rest.
Future projects could include funding county healthcare.
“I think making some improvements in it and paying very careful attention to the projects that Hennepin County is proposing, most of them having to do with healthcare,” said Rest.
We also asked Sen. Rest, who is an avid Twins fan, about the hometown baseball club. Her take on the season so far?
“They have to get hotter bats,” said Rest.
The team then went on to win 12 straight games and 15 of 17.
See also: Hennepin Youth Sports Grants Awarded
