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State officials may soon be searching the couch cushions looking for change to boost electronic pulltab revenues for the Vikings stadium.

And Hennepin County Board Chairman Mike Opat has a very, very clear message for them: "Our position to date and going forward is going to be very, very strong opposition, to using any of the ballpark sales tax."

 some extra money there. Opat says the .15 percent countywide sales tax approved by the Legislature and Hennepin Commissioners in 2006 is more than enough to pay the debt service on Target Field's 30-year bonds.

"We're looking at being able to pay off the debt 5 to 10 years early. It's significant and we're proud of that fact," Opat says, calling it the result of prudent financial management. "I cannot think there would be one vote over here to participate in backfilling a hole in with the football stadium that comes as a result of poor planning with the pulltab revenue."

And it's not just a matter of political support on the Hennepin County board. In an interview this afternoon, Opat had another choice word -- "Constitution" -- when he spoke about the ballpark tax, an indication there might have already been some legal legwork done on the idea.

But, as even Opat acknowledges, the Legislature usually gets to decide what is and what isn't against the law.

Tim Nelson

Author

State officials may soon be searching the couch cushions looking for change to boost electronic pulltab revenues for the Vikings stadium. And Hennepin County Board Chairman Mike Opat has a very, very clear message for them: “Our position to date and going forward is going to be very, very strong opposition, to using any of the…

Hennepin County: Don’t rob from Twins stadium to pay for Vikings

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