Lawmkers: County Officials Float Stadium Sales Tax

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Two state legislators say Ramsey County officials have privately floated the idea of using a half-percent sales tax to help pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

The project is not yet on the Legislature's agenda, but lawmakers say jockeying is already going on behind the scenes. Ramsey County officials insist no formal proposal is on the table.

DFL Reps. Alice Hausman, of St. Paul, and Bev Scalze, of Little Canada, say they met recently with county Commissioner Jan Parker and a county board lobbyist who outlined a funding scenario that could generate $300 million for a stadium in Arden Hills. Parker denies floating a specific proposal. The Star Tribune says Hausman and other legislators are opposed to having the county provide public subsidies for a Vikings stadium.