1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the city of Bemidji; authorizing the city 
  1.3             to impose certain taxes. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [CITY OF BEMIDJI.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [SALES AND USE TAX 
  1.7   AUTHORIZED.] Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
  1.8   477A.016, or any other provision of law, ordinance, or city 
  1.9   charter, if approved by the city voters at a general election 
  1.10  held within one year of the date of final enactment of this act, 
  1.11  the city of Bemidji may impose by ordinance a sales and use tax 
  1.12  of up to one percent for the purposes specified in subdivision 3.
  1.13  The provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.48, govern 
  1.14  the imposition, administration, collection, and enforcement of 
  1.15  the tax authorized under this subdivision. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [EXCISE TAX AUTHORIZED.] Notwithstanding 
  1.17  Minnesota Statutes, section 477A.016, or any other provision of 
  1.18  law, ordinance, or city charter, if a sales and use tax is 
  1.19  imposed under subdivision 1, the city of Bemidji may impose by 
  1.20  ordinance, for the purpose specified in subdivision 3, an excise 
  1.21  tax of up to $20 per motor vehicle, as defined by ordinance, 
  1.22  purchased or acquired from any person engaged within the city in 
  1.23  the business of selling motor vehicles at retail. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [USE OF REVENUES.] Revenues received from taxes 
  2.1   authorized by subdivisions 1 and 2 must be used by the city to 
  2.2   pay the cost of collecting the taxes and to pay all or part of 
  2.3   the capital and administrative cost of constructing, 
  2.4   maintaining, and operating facilities as part of a regional 
  2.5   convention center in Bemidji.  Authorized expenses include, but 
  2.6   are not limited to, acquiring property and paying construction, 
  2.7   maintenance, and operating expenses related to the development 
  2.8   of a convention center which is an arena for sporting events, 
  2.9   concerts, trade shows, conventions, meeting rooms, and other 
  2.10  compatible uses including, but not limited to, parking, 
  2.11  lighting, and landscaping. 
  2.12     Subd. 4.  [BONDS.] If approved by the city voters at a 
  2.13  general election held within one year of the date of final 
  2.14  enactment of this act, the city of Bemidji may issue, without 
  2.15  additional election, general obligation bonds of the city in an 
  2.16  amount not to exceed $25,000,000 to pay capital and 
  2.17  administrative expenses for the acquisition, construction, 
  2.18  improvement, operation, and maintenance of a convention center.  
  2.19  The debt represented by the bonds must not be included in 
  2.20  computing any debt limitations applicable to the city, and the 
  2.21  levy of taxes required by Minnesota Statutes, section 475.61, to 
  2.22  pay the principal or any interest on the bonds must not be 
  2.23  subject to any levy limitations or be included in computing or 
  2.24  applying any levy limitation applicable to the city. 
  2.25     Subd. 5.  [TERMINATION OF TAXES.] The taxes imposed under 
  2.26  subdivisions 1 and 2 expire when the city council determines 
  2.27  that sufficient funds have been received from taxes to finance 
  2.28  the capital and administrative costs for acquisition, 
  2.29  construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of a 
  2.30  convention center and related facilities to repay or retire at 
  2.31  maturity the principal, interest, and premium due on any bonds 
  2.32  issued for the project under subdivision 4.  Any funds remaining 
  2.33  after completion of the project and retirement or redemption of 
  2.34  the bonds may be placed in the general fund of the city.  The 
  2.35  taxes imposed under subdivisions 1 and 2 may expire at an 
  2.36  earlier time if the city so determines by ordinance. 
  3.1      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.2      Section 1 is effective the day after compliance by the 
  3.3   governing body of the city of Bemidji with Minnesota Statutes, 
  3.4   section 645.021, subdivision 3.