St. Paul Mayor Not Ready To Back Vikings In County

ST. PAUL (AP) - St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman says he's not yet willing to support a new Minnesota Vikings stadium north of his city in Ramsey County.

Coleman says he wants a better idea of how his constituents will benefit in relation to the taxes they'll pay. Earlier this week, Ramsey County officials and the Vikings proposed a $1.1 billion stadium in Arden Hills that would be paid in part with a half-cent sales tax increase in the county.

St. Paul is Ramsey County's largest city, and Coleman says he'll withhold judgment until he sees an upcoming state analysis of how much that tax increase would raise and how much would come from within the city.

Coleman says he thinks St. Paul should get some direct benefit from the tax revenue it contributes.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)