Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, a member of a legislative panel that reviews fiscal issues for the Legislature, said he believes the body should review the Vikings' stadium revenue sources before the state sells bonds to finance its share.
Senjem said he wants to make sure that funding sources for the state's $348 million share of the $975 million stadium are secure. He said he asked the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy to review the funding sources before the bonds are sold.
Senjem said his concerns are based on the state's problems with lining up revenue sources for its share -- not on more recent concerns about the business dealings of Zygi Wilf, the team's owner.
After electronic pulltabs failed to provide sufficient revenue, the Legislature designated a one-time cigarette stocking fee and, if needed, revenue from a change in corporate taxes.
Senjem said he believes the public needs to be assured that the state revenue is solid before the bonds are sold.
"My point is not to derail the Vikings stadium process," Senjem said. He said he is seeking "some legislative comfort that we are moving down this road with some level of assurance we are able to afford this."
