DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Public Hearing To Receive Comments On Eligible Projects For County Transportation Sales And Use Tax Funds And Approval Of Projects
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Conduct a public hearing to receive comments on revisions to the list of transportation projects eligible for County Transportation Sales and Use Tax (SUT) funds and approve the list of eligible projects for SUT funds.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system, Dakota County identifies priority transportation projects needed to improve safety, mobility, and economic development. The Transportation SUT, authorized by Minn. Stat. § 297A.993 (the Act), enables counties to levy up to one-half of one percent sales and use tax and an excise tax of $20 per motor vehicle to fund statutorily defined transportation and transit projects. The transportation or transit projects or improvements must be designated by the County Board following a public hearing (Attachment: Minn. Stat. § 297A.993).
Except for taxes for operating costs of a transit project or improvement or for transit operations, the taxes must terminate when revenues raised are sufficient to finance the project. The Act allows the taxes to be used on more than one project or improvement. The County Board may dedicate the proceeds of the Transportation SUT to a new project by resolution after a public hearing.
Dakota County enacted a quarter-cent sales tax and $20 excise tax on new vehicle sales starting October 1, 2017, by Resolution No.17-364 (June 20, 2017). The funds generated by the Transportation SUT have been used to design and construct County highway projects, County interchanges with State highways, transit improvements, and regional trails/greenways.
The County proposes updating the list of projects eligible for Transportation SUT funds to reflect transportation system needs and recent changes to transportation revenue sources (Attachment: Proposed Project List).
The proposed revisions generally include:
• Eliminating projects and funding commitments that have since been completed.
• Updating total project cost estimates and descriptions where new information is available.
• Adding projects that were identified as needs through recently completed plans or studies.
• Removing regional greenway projects that are proposed to be funded with Transportation Advancement Account funds.
• Removing transitway operations costs, which will now be funded by the Metropolitan Council due to recent legislative changes.
• Removing transitway capital costs, which may be funded with other sources.
• Removing trunk highway corridor projects that do not include a County highway intersection or interchange component.
By Resolution No. 23-509 (November 14, 2023), the County Board scheduled a public hearing for November 28, 2023, to receive comments on the proposed list of eligible projects for the Transportation SUT. The public hearing was advertised in the Dakota County Tribune on November 17 and November 24, 2023 (Attachment: Public Hearing Notice), with additional information posted on the Dakota County website.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the Dakota County Board of Commissioners conduct the public hearing to receive comments on the revised list of transportation projects eligible for Transportation SUT funds and approve the list of eligible projects after consideration of any public comments received.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 297A.993 (the Act) authorizes the Dakota County Board to levy up to one-half of one percent sales and use tax and an excise tax of $20 per motor vehicle to fund statutorily defined transportation and transit projects; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 17-364 (June 20, 2017), the Dakota County Board enacted a quarter-cent sales tax and $20 excise tax on new vehicle sales starting October 1, 2017, to fund identified transitway, transit expansion, regional County highway, trail, and trunk highway transportation projects; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County has identified a proposed updated list of transportation projects eligible for Transportation Sales and Use Tax funds based on the needs identified in the Draft 2040 Transportation Plan and through the development of the 2024-2028 Draft Capital Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Act allows the County Board to dedicate the proceeds of the Transportation Sales and Use Tax to a new enumerated project by resolution after a public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the County Board held a public hearing on the date hereof following the publication of notice as required by the Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners dedicates the proceeds of the Dakota County Transportation Sales and Use Tax to the following projects:
1. County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46: Two- to four-lane expansion from Trunk (TH) 3 to TH 52 in Rosemount and Empire Township
2. CSAH 46: Reconstruction from Pleasant Drive to TH 61 in Hastings
3. CSAH 32: Two- to four-lane expansion from CSAH 71 to TH 52 in Inver Grove Heights
4. CSAH 42: Management improvements in Burnsville, Apple Valley, Rosemount
5. CSAH 86: Reconstruction from the western County line to TH 3 in Greenvale, Eureka, and Castle Rock Townships
6. CSAH 23: Pedestrian overpass at 140th Street, Apple Valley
7. CSAH 60: Expansion from CSAH 9 (Dodd) to Highview, Lakeville
8. CSAH 88: Reconstruction from CR 94 to TH 56, Randolph Township
9. CSAH 88: Reconstruction from TH 56 to west of Finch Ct, Randolph Township
10. CSAH 91: Reconstruction from 210th to TH 316, Marshan Township
11. CSAH 91: Reconstruction from Miesville Trail to TH 61, Miesville, Douglas Township
12. CSAH 54: Reconstruction between Hastings east city limits to CSAH 68
13. TH 3: Safety and mobility improvements from 55th Street to TH 55 in Inver Grove Heights
14. TH 3: Safety and mobility improvements from TH 149 to downtown Rosemount in Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Rosemount
15. TH 55: Safety and mobility improvements from TH 52 to General Sieben Drive in Rosemount, Nininger Township, and Hastings
16. I-35 and CSAH 50 interchange: Lakeville
17. I-494 and CSAH 63 interchange: Inver Grove Heights
18. TH 55 and CSAH 28 interchange: Inver Grove Heights
19. Up to $420,000 annually for non-transitway transit service expansion capital and operating costs.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
17-364; 06/20/17
23-509; 11/14/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Stat. § 297A.993
Attachment: Proposed Project List
Attachment: Public Hearing Notice
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Gina Mitteco