The Ramsey County Charter Commission is a major new player on the scene in the debate over funding for a Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.

Ramsey is the only county in the state with a "home rule" charter, essentially a local constitution, that gives the people more control over county government.

Read and comment over at the Pioneer Press Op Ed

The Ramsey County Charter Commission is a major new player on the scene in the debate over funding for a Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.

Ramsey is the only county in the state with a "home rule" charter, essentially a local constitution, that gives the people more control over county government. The Ramsey County Charter, in particular, provides that the "people shall have the right" to require any proposed county law, on any subject matter, to come before the voters.

Article XII, Section 2, of the Minnesota Constitution, however, empowers the Legislature to pass a "special law" allowing the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners to pass an ordinance that would tax or borrow money to support funding a Vikings stadium, without voter approval. That legislation would constitute "taxation without citizen authorization." The Legislature has done it before, for the Twins, and tried three times in the last session for the Vikings but failed. They might succeed next time.

But there is a problem for supporters of hiking taxes without voter review: The Minnesota Constitution also empowers Ramsey County citizens to adopt an amendment to Ramsey County's charter that would "supersede" the Legislature's attempt to bypass the voters.

And that is where the 17-member Charter Commission comes in. The commission's power to propose amendments to the charter is explicitly spelled out in the charter. It is the commission's principal function.

Speaking to the Charter Commission at its last regularly scheduled meeting on Aug.15, the Minnesota Voters Alliance presented the idea of placing a charter amendment question on the ballot. The commission subsequently voted to hold a special meeting on Aug. 31, specifically dedicated to the issue of proposing a charter amendment.

What would an amendment to the charter say? It might simply declare that the county shall not spend current or future revenues to fund a major league professional sports team or stadium. By voting on the amendment question, voters would be weighing in on whether they approve or reject having their money spent on a Vikings stadium.

Keep in mind that charter commissioners and others who support amending the charter in this way are motivated by a single principle: citizens of Ramsey County must have their right to vote protected. The direct issue is not whether new taxes or bonding should occur. The Minnesota Voters Alliance, for example, takes no position on that. The core issue is, "Who decides?" Our view, and that of many others, is that the voters should decide.

It is not too much to say that the Legislature, governor, and a majority on the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners are poised to "attack" the charter and the citizens of Ramsey County. As a practical matter, the members of the Charter Commission are the only public officials in a position to repel that outrageous assault on the rights of county citizens. In fact, it seems to us, each member of the Charter Commission has a duty, regardless of his or her personal preference for funding a Vikings stadium, to protect the charter from these powerful outside forces.

It should also be pointed out that Democrats and Republicans are working together on protecting the Charter and the right of Ramsey County citizens to approve or reject a Vikings ordinance. Everyone is urged to attend the special meeting of the Commission on Aug. 31 at the Association of Minnesota Counties building, 125 Charles Avenue in St. Paul, near the Capitol. By attending this meeting, the public will help charter commissioners understand how much the people are relying on them to do their duty and protect the county's home rule.

In summary, the Legislature has the power to set aside state laws, local laws, and existing rights in the Ramsey County Charter. Fortunately for the citizens of Ramsey County, the Legislature cannot suspend Minnesota Constitution Article XII, Section 2, which protects the people - if the power in it is exercised by the Ramsey County Charter Commission.

Andy Cilek is president of the Minnesota Voters Alliance, a nonprofit that describes itself as a multi-partisan organization "formed with the primary purpose of empowering the electorate."

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites