'Half cent makes sense' campaign starts

Sales tax on

ballot Nov. 7

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With only one month remaining until election day, advocates of a local half-percent sales tax are organizing their efforts to pass the referendum.

Buttons will arrive next week, and lawn signs will follow. Proponents want the white lettering with green background placards to flood the town, reminding people to support the sales tax proposal. They want the slogan "Half percent makes sense" to be visible in every corner of town.

Bob Skillings is chairman of the Sales Tax Referendum Steering Committee, which began meeting in early September. The group meets every Thursday, planning strategy and generating ideas to get positive messages to the public.

"I'm energized by the interest and involvement by other residents," Skillings said. "There's a lot of people working hard to see this be a success."

On election day, voters will decide if the city will raise the sales tax by one-half percent. The city would then sell $9 million in bonds, and repay the bonds over the next 17-18 years with the proceeds from the sales tax.

The $9 million would fund a new hockey and exhibit facility at the Brown County Fairgrounds, pay for renovations at Vogel Arena and an expansion at the Senior Center.

Skillings is involved with the park and recreation department, and believes the new facilities would benefit the town.

"For my two young sons, I want New Ulm to offer as much as possible for them," he said.

The committee has 30 members, representing 11 different local organizations. Thursday, the group discussed setting up literature drops and determining where to place the 250 lawn signs. The literature contains several frequently asked questions that should answer any concerns of local residents or businesses, Skillings said.

Leo Berg said the signs must be placed where people can see them.

"Just to give them to people who want them doesn't do us any good," Berg said. "We need to strategically plan them on the major arteries of town, where the traffic is."

With 500 buttons on the way, Skillings told committee members to begin generating lists of how many buttons each group will need. He also urged the buttons to be distributed immediately.

"Don't let them sit on the shelf," he said. "Get them out."

Dennis Jaspersen suggested the town bring in representatives from other communities that had passed the sales tax increase, such as Mankato.

"If you could get a success story from another community, you'd be far, far ahead of the curve," Jaspersen said.

Dick Salvati, New Ulm City Manager, told the committee about a new study that shows the city would collect 17 percent more sales tax than anticipated. Higher collection rates would mean fewer years to repay the bonds.

"It will probably be in the 17- to 18-year range instead of the 20-year range," Salvati said. "The numbers indicate there is quite a bit of growth in sales tax."

Skillings likes the sales tax proposal because non-residents who visit town and use the new facilities will pay a chunk of the costs.

"The only way we thought something like this would happen is with something other than the property tax," Skillings said.

The committee pays for its literature with private donations. The city does not financially support the committee.

For more information on the sales tax referendum, Skillings suggests people check out the committee Website at www.nusalestax.com