Remember the “user-financed” parking? That was a lie.

Tax dollars from the Minnesota state budget general fund will now be used to pay for a parking garage attached to the newly constructed $90 million Senate Office Building, according to an internal letter sent to Senators and staff. The memo, sent by Secretary of the Senate JoAnne Zoff, reveals a complete reversal of the promise made to taxpayers when the DFL-led House Rules Committee approved the project. The first line of the memo states:

“In 2016, senate funds will be used to defray the cost of parking in the Senate Office Building garage for Senate staff.”

In April 2014, DFL legislators claimed the garage should not be considered part of the taxpayer-funded project because it would be paid for by users, and touted perceived “savings” by removing it from the bottom line. However, the Senate was never prohibited from using its own budget, funded by tax dollars, to defray parking fees.

“Democrats tried and failed to hide the price tag on this completely unnecessary office building,” said Sen. David Osmek (R-Mound). “How many times did we hear Democrats use the term ‘user-financed parking garage’ to convince the public they weren’t spending too much on this building? Turns out the taxpayers will be on the hook for even more of this boondoggle.”

DFL staff will move into the new building on Saturday, January 9, 2016. They report to work in the new building beginning January 11.]

Memo Regarding Staff Parking