Shakopee's City Council favors a DFL proposal to pull Scott County into the metrowide add-on sales tax for transit.
A leading transit advocacy group says Gov. Mark Dayton's idea to raise the tax to a half-cent while including all seven metro counties, not just the five that have agreed in the past, would accelerate the pace of buildout for major transitways from 30 years to 15.
It could cost shoppers in Scott County around $3 million a year per quarter-cent, the county says, depending on what the tax ends up applying to.
In a week when Carver County's board declared itself against the plan, Shakopee's council voted 4-1 to send a letter of support to the governor. Matt Lehman dissented. The Scott County Board is awaiting more details.
Mayor Brad Tabke wrote that the idea "is essential to completing important rail, LRT and BRT projects in the region, as well as assuring that areas like Scott County ... can continue to expand local and express bus service."
david peterson
dapeterson@startribune.com
