With the state sales tax set to increase Wednesday by three-eighths of 1 percent, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota uses the occasion to criticize dedicated tax dollars for the arts and outdoors at a time when the state is struggling to balance the budget.

"While difficult decisions are being made on reducing state government spending in order to balance the state budget, special interests are about to receive millions in taxpayers dollars to spend for their pet projects," the League said in a press release today. "Thanks to the recently passed constitutionally dedicated sales tax increase for arts and outdoor entertainment, these groups will see an increase in spending while funding for health care and other state services are being reduced due to the $6.4 billion state deficit."

League President Phil Krinkie said: “When there is a deficit and you dedicate tax dollars for certain types of special interest programs, you remove funds that could be used to help balance the state budget. ... There are meetings being held around the state and at the capitol to discuss how reductions in state spending for some programs will hurt people yet various arts programs are about to receive a $98 million increase in state funding. The legislature capitulated to special interests to place the sales tax question on the ballot and now they are complaining about the lack of state resources.”