Thanks for that

I am meeting so many smart people as a member of the Duluth School Board.

One just sent me this observation about the bill Rep. Simonson has introduced to the House in hopes of attracting someone, anyone, other than the Duluth Public Schools Academy to buy our White Elephant up on the hill:

“Simonson’s bill only provides a sales tax exemption on building materials from June 30, 2016 until January 1, 2018. This means that unless there is a very motivated developer [with] fully developed plans and the ability to break ground later this summer, the sales tax exemption is worth virtually nothing, because just like Bluestone, any redevelopment of Central (that would include demolition and a lot of new utilities and infrastructure) would be phased in over many years. Assuming Simonson’s bill is passed this year, I highly doubt a developer would purchase Central on the assumption that the 2017 legislature would extend this authorization, especially if a developer has already purchased the land.”

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