HF 1894

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to the county of Cook; authorizing an extension of the local sales tax;
amending Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 9, section 45, subdivisions 2, as
amended, 3, as amended, 4, as amended.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 9, section 45, subdivision 2, as amended by
Laws 1997, chapter 231, article 7, section 36, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Use of revenues.

(a) Revenues received from taxes authorized by
subdivision 1 shall be used by Cook county to pay the cost of collecting the tax and to pay
all or a portion of the costs of expanding and improving the health care facility located
in the county and known as North Shore hospital. Authorized costs include, but are not
limited to, securing or paying debt service on bonds or other obligations issued to finance
the expansion and improvement of North Shore hospital. The total capital expenditures
payable from bond proceeds, excluding investment earnings on bond proceeds and tax
revenues, shall not exceed $4,000,000.

(b) Additional revenues received from taxes authorized by subdivision 1 may be
used by Cook county to pay all or a portion of the costs of betterment of North Shore
care center and providing additional improvements to North Shore hospital. Authorized
costs include, but are not limited to, securing or paying debt service on bonds or other
obligations issued to finance the remodeling of North Shore care center and additional
improvements to North Shore hospital. The total capital expenditures payable from bond
proceeds, excluding investment earnings on bond proceeds and tax revenues, shall not
exceed $2,200,000.

new text begin (c) If approved by the voters at a special election held before December 31, 2007,
additional revenues received from taxes authorized by subdivision 1 may be used by Cook
County to pay for the following projects:
new text end

new text begin (1) construction and improvements to a county community center and recreation
area, including, but not limited to, improvements and additions to the skateboard park,
hockey rink, ball fields, community center addition, county parking area, tennis courts,
and all associated improvements;
new text end

new text begin (2) construction and improvement to the Grand Marais pool;
new text end

new text begin (3) construction and improvement to the Grand Marais Public Library; and
new text end

new text begin (4) debt service to retire bonds for improvements to the Superior National Golf
Course.
new text end

new text begin Authorized expenses include, but are not limited to, paying construction expenses
related to these improvements, and paying debt service on bonds or other obligations
issued to finance acquisition and construction of these improvements.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 9, section 45, subdivision 3, as amended by
Laws 1997, chapter 231, article 7, section 37, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Expiration of taxing authority and expenditure limitation.

The
authority granted by subdivision 1 to Cook county to impose a sales tax shall expire
deleted text begin when the principal and interest on any bonds or obligations issued under subdivision
4, paragraph (a), to finance the expansion and improvement of North Shore hospital
described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), have been paid, or at an earlier time as the
county shall, by resolution, determine deleted text end new text begin at the later of (1) 20 years, or (2) when the county
determines that the amount of revenues received is sufficient to pay for the principal and
interest on any bonds or obligations issued to finance the projects in subdivision 2 new text end . Any
funds remaining after completion of the improvements and retirement or redemption of
the bonds may be placed in the general fund of the county.

Sec. 3.

Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 9, section 45, subdivision 4, as amended by
Laws 1997, chapter 231, article 7, section 38, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Bonds.

(a) Cook county may issue general obligation bonds in an amount
not to exceed $4,000,000 for the expansion and improvement of North Shore hospital.

(b) Additionally, Cook county may issue general obligation bonds in an amount
not to exceed $2,200,000 for the betterment of North Shore care center and additional
improvements to North Shore hospital.

(c) The bonds may be issued without election under Minnesota Statutes, chapter
475, on the question of issuance of the bonds or a property tax to pay them. The debt
represented by the bonds shall not be included in computing any debt limitations applicable
to Cook county, and the levy of taxes required by Minnesota Statutes, section 475.61, to
pay principal of and interest on the bonds shall not be subject to any levy limitation or be
included in computing or applying any levy limitation applicable to the county.

new text begin (d) Cook County may issue bonds under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475, to pay
capital and administrative expenses for the improvements authorized in subdivision 2,
paragraph (c), in an amount that does not exceed $14,000,000. An election to approve the
bonds under Minnesota Statutes, section 475.58, is not required. The issuance of bonds
under this subdivision is not subject to Minnesota Statutes, sections 275.60 and 275.61.
The debt represented by the bonds is not included in computing any debt limitation
applicable to the county, and any levy of taxes under Minnesota Statutes, section 475.61,
to pay principal and interest on the bonds is not subject to any levy limitation.
new text end