Economic development not withstanding, the proposed Twins stadium tax makes the short hairs on our neck stand on end.

The estimated cost of the stadium is $360 million, with $478 million expected for the entire project. $125 million would come from the Twins organization; with the remaining $353 million raised through a. 0.15 percent Hennepin County sales tax.

It’s really a pitance, 3 cents on a $20 purchase (except those already exempt, including clothing, grocery food and medical supplies) and shouldn’t break most people’s bank, but it still seems wrong to spend the money on America’s favorite pasttime when so many worthy programs that help people are suffering.

What does it say about us that we aren’t willing to pay for programs to help the most vulnerable of our citizens, children and the elderly, because we’d rather have a baseball stadium?

There’s no doubt the Twins should have a stadium &045; we’d rather see the team stay in Minnesota. They give visitors another reason to visit our great state, but the funding package still isn’t a win-win for residents who need non-profit services to get by in our culture. Yet these same metro citizens would be paying for a luxury they couldn’t even enjoy.

That is certainly a sad commentary.

We suggest everyone head back to the drawing board to find a better solution to keep the Twins.