One Percent Local Sales Tax Opportunity!

Vote YES!

There is a lot of energy surrounding the Referendum to pass the One Percent (1%) Sales Tax in Cook County; there is also some confusion. Following is an attempt to clarify.

A Special Election is being held in Cook County for voters to decide whether or not to impose a sales tax of one percent (1%) on all taxable transactions within Cook County. Election Day is November 3, 2009. Beginning October 16, a ballot will be mailed to every registered voter in Cook County, including the City of Grand Marais. Your ballot must be received in the Cook County Auditor's Office by 8 PM on November 3, 2009, either by mail or hand delivery.

The money collected through this sales tax will be used to pay for all or a portion of the following projects and associated financing costs: (i) construction and improvement of a countywide high-speed communications infrastructure network; (ii) construction, improvements and additions to community centers and public recreations areas, including public parking areas, located in Grand Marais, Tofte, and Lutsen; (iii) construction of and improvements to the Grand Marais Public Library; and (iv) construction and improvement of a district energy plant for public facilities in Grand Marais.

For the past year or so, the Community has worked to identify specific projects for potential funding using this 1% Sales Tax. And, a One Percent Sales Tax Committee was formed. This Committee, based on Public input, identified (7) projects for possible funding:

Expanded Cook County Community Center
Cook County Community Center Outdoor Rec Area
Birch Grove Outdoor Rec Area
Public Library Addition
County-wide Broadband
District Energy Facility
Improvements to Superior National Golf Course

It is important to understand that the County Board has the discretion to decide which project(s) to fund in part, in full, or not at all. It is equally important to understand that it is up to each of us to advocate to the County Board (and within the Community) for the projects we believe in and want to see realized. We have the right and the responsibility to let our County Board know how we want this money spent.

Before us is the unique chance to collect $20 million to spend on projects that we could not otherwise afford in this small community. Before us is an opportunity to participate fully and directly in the political process that determines where to spend this money. It is important that we let our County Commissioners know what we want.

Bottom Line: Let's pass the Referendum to get the $20 million into the County. Then, let's work together with the County Board to spend it responsibly and on the projects we want.

The One Percent Sales Tax and how it will be spent is complex. If you have questions, take the time to find answers.

For further information:

WTIP is sponsoring a public forum at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts with the Cook County News Herald and Community Education from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13. Childcare will be provided in the community gym for attendees of the forum by the Cooperation Station. Questions, concerns and comments on any issue related to the 1 percent sales tax will be taken from the public at the forum, which will also be broadcast live on WTIP at 90.7 FM in Grand Marais and 91.7 FM on the Gunflint Trail

Cook County Conversations
WTIP North Shore Community Radio, Boreal Access and the Cook County News Herald, in partnership with e-democracy.org and the Blandin Foundation have launched Cook County Conversations, an on-line forum for sharing insights and perspective on issues that affect our community. This new forum is a safe, civil and informative platform for residents and visitors of Cook County to discuss issues that affect them.

http://boreal.org/drupal/onepercent

Vote YES!
for the One Percent Local Sales Tax