01 How will the City pay for this investment?

The city is proposing a half-percent local option sales tax to finance the investment. The State Legislature already authorized the City to place the sales tax option on this November’s ballot to provide $39.3 million for both parks. During the current session, lawmakers will decide whether to allow Edina voters to consider using the sales tax for an additional $25.3 million to expand Braemar Arena.

Yes. Edina is one of approximately a dozen cities in Minnesota that are proposing a sales tax to voters in November 2022, including nearby cities such as Bloomington, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Maple Grove and Roseville. Outside of the metro, more than 40 other cities have been authorized by the Legislature to enact a sales tax to help fund regional improvements.

City leaders began gathering input from residents in 2016 regarding the needs of Fred Richards and Braemar parks. Feedback from community meetings and surveys helped shape the investment plan, and the City successfully received legislative approval in 2021 to propose a half-percent sales tax to voters to finance it. Ultimately, Edina residents will decide whether this is the right commitment for our community.

The sales tax option would spread the tax impact of the project across both residents and non-residents, rather than only residents who own or rent property. Approximately 60 percent of a sales tax increase would be paid by nonresidents of Edina, according to an analysis by the University of Minnesota. A local sales tax option also gives residents the ability to choose how improvements to the city’s parks will be financed.

No. The tax expires in 17 years. If an amount sufficient to pay the bonds for the Fred Richards Park, Braemar Park and Braemar Arena projects is raised before then, the sales tax would fund general Parks & Recreation capital improvements for the remainder of the term.

If voters approve at least one of the two ballot questions, the half-percent sales tax would take effect in 2023, and project work would begin after that.

Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 23. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Edina residents will be able to vote early by absentee ballot or in person at the polls. You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot. You can register now by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website , or register at your polling location on Election Day.