Stadium debate thrown curveballs by Senate committee

ST. PAUL (Brian Bakst, Associated Press) - Stadium backers better keep the champagne on ice.

A day after the Minnesota Twins successfully guided a ballpark bill through the state House, the Senate Tax Committee on Thursday threw a few curveballs at that proposal and at a plan to finance a University of Minnesota football stadium.

First, the bill putting state money toward the university stadium failed on a tie vote. Then, the chief sponsor of the Twins proposal offered a new funding approach that hinges on a half-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase in the seven-county metropolitan area. Some of the proceeds would help pay for a Vikings stadium in Anoka County and transportation projects in the region.

All of it could be positioning for House-Senate negotiations. But the anxiety level is rising for stadium advocates, who were riding high after Wednesday's vote. Earlier in the session, the House gave overwhelming approval to a Gopher stadium bill.

Thursday's setback, which committee members planned to revisit later in the evening, came after a sports memorabilia tax was inserted in the bill to cover the $12.9 million in annual state payments toward the on-campus facility.

"This is not dead by any means. I just don't know what the next step is," said Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley.

University president Robert Bruininks wasn't sweating the vote.

"This is part of the dance of the Legislature," Bruininks said. He said the university's $248 million stadium plan has wide support among the whole Senate.

Sen. Bill Belanger, R-Bloomington, said Republicans on the committee wouldn't support a bill that includes the tax. The proposal would tack a 13 percent charge on licensed collegiate and professional sports memorabilia, such as jerseys, trading cards and sports equipment. The tax would be assessed at the wholesale level but consumers would probably feel it at the retail counter.

The Republicans were joined by Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, in stalling the bill. Marty questioned whether a stadium fit with the university's academic priorities, and said he was uncomfortable with the cost.

Committee Chairman Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, recommended the tax. He said a version of the bill passed by the House would strain the state's general treasury and put the project in competition for funding with other state priorities.

"We're not going to pass a bill out that's not paid for. I'm not going to pass fake legislation," he said.

The Senate version stripped out a $35 million naming rights deal with TCF Bank.

Under a bill that passed the House by a strong margin, the state would chip in up to $9.4 million a year, accounting for half of the long-term stadium debt. The rest would come from private donations and a $50-per-year student fee.

In exchange, the state would gain rights to 2,800 acres of undeveloped land in Dakota County that can be used for outdoor recreation.

Pogemiller said some type of Gophers stadium plan will pass his committee. He predicted the Twins would also get committee backing.

Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins and the Twins bill sponsor, rolled out a funding plan that he prefers over a Hennepin County sales tax plan that has been the cornerstone of stadium deliberations the past two years.

Kelley said he would prefer to raise the sales tax across the Twin Cities region, which he said would pay off the Twins stadium faster, add a roof to the ballpark, generate money for a Vikings stadium and speed up road and transit construction in the area.

He acknowledged that the Twins don't want to be lumped in with the other causes.

"I'm concerned about trying to do this the right way," Kelley said. "This is not just a maneuver. It's what I think is better."

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, dismissed the concept outright.

"It's not going to happen," he said. "The Senate is trying to mess up the bills."

The Senate panel has scheduled a Friday meeting and could continue its deliberations over the weekend on the stadium plans.