A Reality Based Look at The Vikings’ Proclaimed Tax Contributions #wilfare
Paul Udstrand has taken a look at the numbers Target Corp Home Field Advantage has been using to mislead politicians into supporting a more than half billion dollar gift to the Vikings. While I’ve pointed out the organization’s efforts to mislead politicians and the public through a misleading push-poll, Udstrand has taken a look at the tax revenue numbers the group claims the Vikings generate.
It’s nasty stuff. Udstrand points out that the Vikings must be pretending that players in the past made as much money as players do today in order to meet the tax revenue from income taxes they’re claiming.
They also, conveniently, take credit for ALL of the revenue from ALL events that have happened in the history of the Metrodome. That includes the Twins, Gophers, Timberwolves, NCAA Final Four, and Superbowl among other events.
It’s worth a read for people that have an interest in understanding how much the public stands to lose on this deal. In the end, one may decide that it’s worth losing tens of millions per year to subsidize what Wilf won’t pay, Vikings fans including season ticket holders won’t pay through ticket prices, and local corporations won’t pay for luxury boxes.
Personally, I think the public can do far better than what’s been negotiated in the current stadium bill. A bill that guarantees that the public will lose money in order to subsidize a private business is a bad bill. Regardless of public financing gift scheme, the bill needs a dramatic makeover to reach a point where the public doesn’t lose money on this deal.
