Minn. governor: Public should get say on stadium tax hike

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Gov. Mark Dayton said Monday he would support letting Ramsey County voters weigh in on a proposed sales tax increase for a new Vikings stadium.

Stadium backers have been working on a plan that would not allow voters a say in building a Vikings stadium in Arden Hills. At the Star Tribune's State Fair booth Monday, Dayton told fairgoers he thinks there are a lot of unanswered questions about Arden Hills.

Even though Hennepin County built Target Field, home of baseball's Minnesota Twins, without a referendum, Dayton said a countywide vote now might be appropriate.

Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett told Minnesota Public Radio News that a referendum is a potential deal-killer. Bennett says the question wouldn't be on a ballot until 2012, and the Vikings may not be willing to put up with the delay.

The Vikings' lease with the Metrodome expires after the end of this season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press