If the half percent sales tax is approved by voters, the park district will reduce the property tax assessment cap on its general fund from 38 mills to 26 mills, for 20 years.

The council voted 6-1 to move the measure to the ballot.

Council member Scott Samuelson, who voted against the motion, said it offers a tax break for Minot property owners but increases taxes for others who shop in the city.

“What we’re asking people to do, who are strapped for money already, is we’re going to make the decision of whether they pay more taxes or not. The citizens of Minot are going to decide whether anybody that comes here is going to spend more tax dollars or not. And I don’t think that’s fair,” Samuelson said.

Elly DesLauriers

Voters narrowly defeated a similar measure for the park district in a special election last June. At that time, the park district had proposed using some of the $6 million a year in estimated sales tax proceeds for a new turf facility. The current, proposed half percent would go toward maintaining and operating park facilities and would help with future capital improvements, according to the park district.

Elly DesLauriers, executive director for Minot Parks, said the 40% reduction in the general fund’s property tax amounts annually to $155 on a $250,000 home, $248 on a $400,000 home, $404 on a $650,000 home and $528 on an $850,000 home.

“In order for a property owner to not see these savings, they would have to spend over $30,000 in taxable sales,” she said.

“The Minot Park District is primarily funded by property tax, yet the reach of our facilities goes far beyond the city limits of Minot. Nearly 55 percent of our visitors are from outside the city limits,” DesLauriers said.

She cited the economic impact of park facilities. For instance, the July 2025 Magic City Fast Pitch event in Minot brought 2,700 visitors, of which 1,300 visited a hotel. There were 5,000 restaurant visits, and 4,000 visits to major shopping attractions.

Scott Samuelson

DesLauriers added the park district has a long list of needed maintenance projects.

“They’re necessary for our facilities to operate and serve our community and our region. We have goals for the future projects. We believe this proposal before you will help give us a roadmap to move forward,” she told the council. “We take great pride in what we do, and we are working within the resources that we have. We are bringing this proposal to you to continue to move the needle forward on quality of life for our region.”

Council member Mike Blessum said the decision belongs to the voters, which is why he was voting to put the proposal on the ballot. However, he noted the city is allowed by state law up to a 3% local tax.

“This would bring us to two and a half. We’ve heard about public safety wanting the other half. So, we may be just maxing out our entire taxing authority under sales tax within the next year,” he said.

“They’re bringing it back one more time to give people one more opportunity to vote on this,” council member Lisa Olson said. “I think it’s not for us to get in the way. It’s to allow the people to vote.”