New Farm Equipment Repair Tax Has Few Defenders

ST. CLOUD, (AP) - Craig Will has deal with plenty of unhappy customers since a new state tax on farm equipment repairs took effect July 1.

Will works at Midwest Machinery in Sauk Rapids, which repairs farm implements. He says many farmers who bring their machines in for repairs aren't aware of the new sales tax.

He says it amounts to a lot of money on a repair bill that could total several thousand dollars.

Farmers and repair shops aren't alone in bashing the tax, a product of the 2013 legislative session that has few defenders.

Gov. Mark Dayton has signaled a willingness to put a repeal on the agenda of a special session next month, but only if the session is otherwise limited to disaster relief.