Area Cities to Talk Charter Cable, Half-Cent Sales Tax

WAITE PARK - Charter Cable and the Regional Sales tax will be discussed at a Joint Cities Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Minnesota State Legislature has given the six cities in the St. Cloud Metro area the authority to raise the sales tax by a half-cent through 2018.  But as the area cities start to work on their future Capital Improvement Plans they want this year's State Legislature to extend it for 20 years.

If state lawmakers do allow the extension, each city would still have to put the question on a ballot for residents to vote yes or no.

The cities of St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, and Sartell have had the half-cent sales tax in place since 2003.  Waite Park, St. Augusta, and St. Joseph were added in 2006.

Money collected from the increased tax is used for regional projects like: the Airport, the library, parks and trails, and transportation.

Another topic during tomorrow (Tuesday) night's meeting is on the franchise agreement with the Charter Cable Company.  The contract with the company is set to expire next year.

Each city has a separate contract with the company, but they work together during the negotiating process.

Tuesday's meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at the Waite Park City Hall.