SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Mayor Mike Huether in his annual budget address warned that a train is about to collide with Sioux Falls, in the rising cost of the city bus system as the city grows.
"There's this train coming", Huether warned City Council on Tuesday, "and its headed right for us." He even used a slide of a roaring train to make his point.
"The answer is not more city funding...its not" intoned Huether, as he reccomended that Council approve more aggressive fare hikes.
Another challenge in 2017 will be the first full year of operating the new MIDCO Aquatic Center. Huether revealed that even with sponsorships defraying some of the cost, the city will still have to pitch in over $500,000. The city's first indoor pool is scheduled to open in the fall.
Huether proposed a 2017 budget of $467 million, slightly less than 2016 spending. He told Council that the budget will not grow the size of government. He called it a 'flat' budget.
About half the proposed spending will be for public safety (Huether is asking for four additional police officers) and for maintaining and upgrading streets and roads.
“Prioritizing limited taxpayer dollars is critical, but it is so hard because everyone wants what they want,” said Mayor Huether. “This budget focuses on our city as a whole and maximizes the value and return of our citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars.”
The total budget includes the Capital Program, submitted to the City Council last month, which proposes to invest $127.1 million in 2017 into streets and utilities infrastructure, parks, a new public parking ramp, and other projects and equipment.
The entire 2017 recommended budget is available at www.siouxfalls.org/finance.
