Mayo subsidy shrinks in House plan

Published 11:01 am Tuesday, April 16, 2013

ST. PAUL — Minnesota House Democrats want to trim the state’s contribution to a Mayo Clinic expansion proposal by about $200 million from an original request of about $500 million from the Rochester healthcare giant.

Under the revised proposal released Monday as part of a larger House tax bill, about $300 million from Minnesota taxpayers would go toward building public infrastructure to support Mayo’s planned $3.5 billion expansion of its Rochester campus.

Mayo officials predict it will generate an additional $2 billion in private investment.

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Taxpayers in Rochester and surrounding Olmsted County would be responsible for more than double the total cost compared what was proposed originally. Elected officials would be able to choose from a menu of tax increases on lodging, food and beverage, entertainment and recreation facilities, transit, and vehicle wheelage to help pay a local share of at least $128 million and as much as $247 million.