Mar 26, 2008 3:55 pm US/Central
MOA Takes Another Stab At Expansion Tax Shift
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
After falling short last year, the Mall of America's operators are renewing their push for state legislation that would help clear the way for a massive expansion.
Mall executives and labor union officials made their case Wednesday to the Senate Taxes Committee, which took no action. A bill in front of the Legislature would capture property tax dollars from the mall's Bloomington site and use it to pay for roads, sewers and a parking ramp needed for the project.
Committee Chairman Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said he is working on a revised plan and could present it as soon as Thursday as an amendment to a bigger tax bill heading toward a Senate vote. He said it could include food, beverage and sales taxes specific to the mall and a new lodging tax in the vicinity.
Mall executive vice president Maureen Bausch said the shopping center is no longer the nation's biggest and needs to grow to keep attracting tourists.
"Just like Disney World is a Florida brand, Mall of America is a Minnesota brand. What if Florida would have said no to Disney years ago after the Magic Kingdom was built? We'd have no Epcot, MGM, Wild Kingdom, hotels and Orlando wouldn't be Orlando," she said.
Plans call for an expansion of more than 5 million square feet. It would include new retail space, a hotel and entertainment options such as an ice-skating rink.
Mall officials say the project would involve $1.8 billion in private investment and require 7,000 construction jobs.
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