File Photo Hockey players practice at Minot Park District’s Maysa Arena. The district plans to ask voters for a sales tax that would pay for another indoor facility near Maysa as well as initially replace some property taxes for park operations.

A special election has been approved by the Minot City Council for Tuesday, June 10, to let voters decide whether to allow Minot Park District to levy a half percent sales tax.

The date is pending the agreement of the Minot Park Board, which will discuss the matter at its meeting tonight, and Ward County, which would administer the election. The park board had suggested an April 29 election, but Elly DesLauriers, the district’s executive director, told the council the board likely would be open to the council’s suggested June date.

The council voted 6-1 to place the park board ordinance establishing the sales tax on the ballot, along with setting the special election date and approving ballot measure wording.

“I don’t think it is right for us to deny the voters the opportunity to vote on that,” council member Lisa Olson said. “It’s something that’s important for the residents in Minot to have a voice on.”

The half percent sales tax is estimated to generate about $6 million at the current collections pace. The park district has proposed to construct an indoor turf facility and finance general park district operations and future capital projects.

Once the indoor turf facility is paid off, the full amount of the tax would remain dedicated to the park district’s general fund for operations and future capital projects.

Council member Scott Samuelson cast the lone vote in opposition.

“The citizens of Minot are tapped out. We’ve got nothing left. I think there’s other ways to figure out how to build this if this is what the community wants,” he said. “I’ve not talked to one person that wants this on a ballot, to even vote on it. I believe it will have a negative impact on our economic development.”

Council member Rob Fuller agreed the overwhelming feeling in the community is opposed to new taxes, but he also said the voters should decide.

“People are very concerned that they’re leaving the property tax portion of it intact, although they’re giving a five year abatement,” he said. “In five years, people feel like, they’re going to double dip.”

“It falls on the voters to determine if they are comfortable with the way that the ballot is written. I don’t think that’s our responsibility,” Olson said.

The Minot Park Board proposes to reduce its property tax levy from a current state-imposed cap of 38 mills to a voluntary cap of 26 mills until June 30, 2030, if voters approve the sales tax.

With the change of the proposed election date, collection of the sales tax, if approved by voters, also would be pushed back from July 1 to Oct. 1.

“I will speak as a citizen for a minute and say that I think our parks are behind. I think our parks could do a lot better,” council member Paul Pitner said. “I think this allows them that opportunity to do more for our community and the people that come into the community.”

However, he added his role on the council is to move the measure to the ballot at the park district’s request, in accordance with the authority granted in state law.

“It will be up to the voters to decide and, again, I’m excited to give them that opportunity,” Pitner said.