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Contact Your County Commissioner and Tell Them to Support the Regional Sales Tax in Their County! We scored a big win for transit at the legislature last week ... now we need to make sure that law has maximum impact in our counties! Here's the short scoop: The transportation funding bill passed by the legislature gives counties the choice to opt in or out of the new funding for transit. If a county chooses to opt in, two things happen: (1) the county levies a 1/4 cent sales tax within the county, and (2) the county joins the new governing structure that will make decisions about how transitway funds are spent. The structure will be made up of representatives from the counties that opt in for the funding. If all seven counties opt in, the new sales tax will raise $100 million for new transitways around the region. For more information, see this article in Tuesday's Star Tribune: Counties must decide how (and if) to divvy up new transit tax. Why it's important for counties to opt in:
Why it's important for us to act now:
What you can do: Call your county commissioner! Listed below are the phone numbers for all seven counties (click on the name of the county to go to their website or see the end of the email for a list of commissioners by county). Please take a minute to call or check the website to find out who your commissioner is (commissioners are elected by district within the county) and call. Tell your commissioner that you support the new transit funding and good transportation options for your county! Anoka County: 763-421-4760 Finally, a word about what's coming next: Last week, we learned that Minnesota has a budget deficit of almost $1 billion for 2009. That means that in addition to passing the transportation bill earlier this session, we need to make sure elected officials do NOT cut existing transit funds. We'll keep you updated on how to take needed action with your legislators later in the session. Thanks for helping to keep transit moving forward in Minnesota! Commissioners by county:
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