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<br />CASSCOUNlY <br />GOVERNMENT <br />-'- <br /> <br />State's Attorney <br /> <br />Birch P. Burdick <br /> <br />Assistant State's <br /> <br />Attorneys: <br /> <br />Mark R. Boening <br />Tracy J. Peters <br />Leah J. Viste <br />Reid A. Brady <br />Kara Schmitz Olson <br />Gary E. Euren <br />Gary L. Delorme <br />Kimberlee J. Hegvik <br />Cherie L. Clark <br />Tristan J. Van de Streek <br /> <br />Victim/Witness <br />Coordinators: <br /> <br />Brenda Olson-Wray <br />Debbie Tibiatowski <br /> <br />Check Division/ <br />Restitution: <br /> <br />Linda Workin <br />Charlotte Eversvik <br /> <br />Box 2806 <br />211 Ninth Street South <br />Fargo, North Dakota 58108 <br /> <br />PH: 701-241-5850 <br />Fax: 701-241-5838 <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br />fAUG 14 20011 <br /> <br />August 14,2007 <br /> <br />CABS COUNTY COMMISSJON <br /> <br />Cass County Commissioners <br />Cass County Courthouse <br />Fargo, ND <br /> <br />Re: Opinion on Special Election for Proposed Sales Tax for <br />Economic Development <br /> <br />Dear Commissioners: <br /> <br />At your August 6 Commission meeting, the Greater Fargo Moorhead <br />Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) requested you <br />consider a special election to decide whether a 1/2-cent sales tax <br />should be implemented to fund future economic development (Growth <br />Plan). The Commission approved a process to hold an election in <br />November 2007, if possible, or in June 2008 if not. This letter provides <br />my opinion on whether Cass County's Home Rule Charter (HRC) <br />grants the power to hold a special election in November 2007 for this <br />purpose. <br /> <br />Question <br /> <br />Does Cass County's HRC allow the Cass County Commission to refer <br />to the electorate the issue of adding a 1/2-cent sales tax through a <br />special election to be held in November 2007? <br /> <br />Opinion <br /> <br />It is my opinion that Cass County's HRC does not allow the Cass <br />County Commission to refer to the electorate the issue of adding a 1/2- <br />cent sales tax through a special election to be held in November 2007. <br />The remainder of this letter explains the bases for that opinion. <br /> <br />Cass County's Home Rule Charter <br /> <br />Cass County's HRC Art. 9 is entitled "Revenue Authority and <br />Limitations" (copy enclosed). HRC Art. 9, 91 grants the Board of <br />Commissioners the authority by ordinance or resolution to levy and <br />collect sales taxes, among other things, with certain limitations provided <br />in Art. 9, 92. In particular, Art. 9, 92.2 states: <br />