St. Paul, MN — Darrell McKigney, President of the Taxpayers League Foundation, today announced the Foundation’s February “Boondoggle of the Month.” The boondoggle this month was awarded jointly to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the City of Burnsville and the Metropolitan Council for using tax dollars to subsidize the construction of a 19,500-seat amphitheater in Burnsville, on the site of a hazardous waste landfill.
         
The State is lending $2.4 Million for the project through the MPCA at 4.5% for 30 years --below market interest rates.
         
 “The Burnsville Amphitheater project is a lesson in how taxpayers unwittingly get roped into paying for private entertainment ventures,” McKigney said. “This is the latest in a series of private business ventures for which taxpayers have been put on the hook. Subsidizing a business loan is no different that cutting a check. This is just another example of corporate welfare.”
         
 ‘There is a rash of these types of deals going on across the state. Whether it is taxpayer dollars subsidizing the Guthrie and Lanesboro theaters, or the talk about taxpayer dollars funding a new Twins or Vikings Stadium, the taxpayers are being asked to fork over tax dollars to subsidize private entertainment venues,” McKigney said.
         
 “Millions of taxpayer dollars will be used to benefit private interests who themselves are risking little,” McKigney said. “In essence, the subsidies for the amphitheater are no different than taxpayers funding a new stadium.   The Burnsville Amphitheater richly deserves the Boondoggle of the Month award,” McKigney added.

Many residents of Burnsville and Bloomington have opposed this project for years, and until Ted Mondale became chairman, the Met Council was also opposed to the project. Although Mondale has recused himself from decisions regarding the Black Dog Amphitheatre because of his close personal relationship to the McGowan family, owners of the waste landfill, the decision to reverse a policy opposing the amphitheater on environmental and other grounds was taken under Mondale’s leadership.
         
The Taxpayers League Foundation names a “Boondoggle of the Month” each month to bring attention to a particularly egregious example of wasteful government spending. Previous boondoggles have included lavish perks for school superintendents across Minnesota and the Department of Natural Resources using funds designated for fire fighting to house employees in a high-priced resort.

The Taxpayers League Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization dedicated to informing Minnesotans on issues related to taxes and government spending. Taxpayers interested in reporting government waste should visit the Taxpayers League website at www.taxpayersleague.org Taxpayers League Foundation publications are available on the web or call (763) 249-5954.
 

MAIN  LINE: (763)  249-3954   FAX: (763)  249-5960
 

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