06/04/2026
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/04/minnesota-lawmakers-reject-all-local-sales-tax-requests
Baxter was one of the 37 cities whose request was denied. As a rural, regional economic center, the less than 10,000 residents of this city cannot pay enough property taxes and sewer/water fees to keep up with the needs that are driven heavily by visitors to the city. A sales tax is a very fair way to spread costs and to give people some control over their taxes (one can choose not to buy a taxable item, but one cannot choose to skip property tax payments).
Furthermore: the ask from Baxter was for commercial street repair, the sewage treatment plant we share with Brainerd, and a desperately needed new police department building.
The total ask was for 100% non-luxury needs like State-mandated water treatment upgrades ($50+million to local taxes and fees if we don’t continue this sales tax) fixing roads for visitors, and upgrades that would allow our female police officers to have their own locker room among many other needs to support our dedicated public safety staff.
The Senate Tax Committee approved 37 local sales tax requests this past legislative session, but the requests foundered in the Minnesota House.
