Hermantown Proposing Sales Tax Increase For Recreation Initiative

The City of Hermantown has opened a public survey to gauge interest in raising their sales tax 1/2 of 1 percent to fund a recreation initiative within the city.

According to our media partners at WDIO-TV, the Community Recreation Initiative looks to use the funds generated to pay for a new sheet of ice at the hockey arena as well as make improvements to Fichtner Park and the Hermantown trail system.

On their official website, the City of Hermantown explained how the process began:

In early 2020, the City of Hermantown passed a resolution requesting permission from the state legislature to pursue an increase of a half percent in sales tax in order to fund an array of projects aimed at improving health outcomes across our region and community. This process was halted by the COVID-19 global health pandemic but has begun again in 2021 with the passing of a similar resolution.

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The City says the goal of this process is to be "thoughtful and deliberate", giving Hermantown residents a chance to have their voice be heard both now, then again at the polls should they be granted permission by the state legislature to put the projects on the ballot in November, 2022.

Right now, residents can take an online survey regarding the initiative. The survey covers the sheet of ice, Fichtner Park and the trail system separately, providing everyone the opportunity to share their opinion on their personal use of each. It also gauges interest in each of the projects as well as how residents would like to see improvements funded.

You can click here to access the survey, which will be available until 12:00 p.m. on March 1.