The Hennepin County Board will hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, before regularly scheduled committee meetings, to consider resolutions pertaining to implementation of a 0.25-percent sales and use tax increase to support expansion of metropolitan transit options in Hennepin County, including participation in a governing board directing use of the tax revenues, according to a news release from the county.

The action is required as a result of recently approved state legislation for transportation initiatives. The legislation gives the seven metro counties – Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, Washington, Carver and Scott – the option of levying the 0.25-percent tax for new rail lines and busways, and participating in a joint powers Counties Transit Improvement Board, which will make decisions on the investments.

Ramsey and Anoka counties have already approved the measure; Carver has voted against; Washington, Dakota and Hennepin are all scheduled to discuss it April 1. Scott had not taken action at press time.

The board held two public comment meetings on the tax March 18, with one in Eden Prairie, and also discussed the issue March 27.

Counties must decide by April 1 whether to participate in the joint powers agreement if they want to start collecting the tax by July 1.