SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Mayor Paul TenHaken proposed a nearly half a billion dollar budget for the City of Sioux Falls today.
"As a fiscal conservative, I see this number and I think, 'wow!'" he said. "That's half a billion dollars, that's a lot of money. And that's not lost on me".
The mayor says the city is projected to take in a 4.9 percent increase in revenue but will only increase the budget by 4.7 percent.
"While Sioux Falls for better or worse, we're a metropolitan city and there are no signs that population growth is slowing down or halting. As our city grows, so do its needs. And fortunately, so do our revenues, fortunately."
He proposes to hire 17 new city employees--six police officers and three forestry workers to deal with the emerald ash borer problem.
TenHaken says there's a difference between excessive government spending and necessary government spending. He also had praise for City employees.
"We've been working hard to get around to meet all the City employees," he said. "We're in the people business."
City employees are the single biggest cost, at over $114 million.
The City would also obtain what TenHaken calls "civil disturbance equipment."
TenHaken says the budget's priorities are people, public safety, and sustainable growth.