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Ramsey Leaders Propose Food, Beverage Stadium Tax

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Two Ramsey County commissioners want a 3 percent countywide food and beverage tax to help pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.

Commissioners Tony Bennett and Rafael Ortega floated the proposal Thursday. They say it would raise about $24 million a year and finance $350 million in capital bonds for a $1.1 billion stadium.

Ortega and Bennett are allies with the Vikings who back the Arden Hills site. But several proposed sites in Minneapolis are still in the mix, and Ramsey County backers have struggled since Gov. Mark Dayton and state lawmakers shot down a proposed Ramsey County-wide half-cent sales tax increase.

Some Ramsey County officials and citizens have demanded a public referendum on any tax increases to help build a stadium

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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