A state senator said a 15 percent user fee could likely pay the public costs of building a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, a longtime critic of stadium public subsidies, said he and others huddled Monday with state analysts to see what percentage a user fee would have to be in order to pay the public's debt service on a $1 billion stadium.
The meetings come as the Vikings, who oppose user fees, try to convince lawmakers in the Legislature's waning days not to deviate from a public funding package that has been endorsed by the team and Gov. Mark Dayton and relies on contributions from the state and Minneapolis.
A Senate panel on Friday considered a proposal that would charge user fees on a host of stadium-related items, including tickets, parking, concessions and even the Vikings' TV revenue. Though the plan was rejected several legislators, including Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, the Senate Taxes Committee chair, said they were receptive to exploring the concept.
Although Marty said Monday no final decisions were made, he said state analysts had initially said a 28 percent user fee would be necessary but said they have since lowered it to 18 percent and may ultimately drop it to 14 to 15 percent.
But Marty cautioned that a 15 percent user fee would only cover building the stadium, and would not cover its operating costs.
"I think 15 would fly," Marty said of how legislators would view the percentage. "I think 15 percent would sell very well here. I think 18 percent would, too."
The Vikings oppose tapping user fees to pay for the stadium, saying it would cut into the team's new stadium revenue and likely force the team to lower its $427 million pledge to the project.
