February 2018

Mayor Huether considers doing business with potential criminals as the #1 Win of 2017

l3wis February 7, 2018 3Comments

Nope, you read the headline correct. Only Mike is capable of spinning this one;

1) The future $50 million mixed-use parking ramp captures even bigger dreams for downtown Sioux Falls, above and beyond the long awaited need for more public parking.

That’s right, the same developer that has a partner who is being criminally investigated by the Feds and dragged asbestos through our city without paying a fine is considered our Top Win of 2017. Talk about setting the bar. Surprised he didn’t bring up our rising drug problem as win #2.

But the list does have some more interesting tidbits;

4) Our finances are rock solid regardless of the challenge, and by the way, Sioux Falls saves $25 million in interest payments with prudent debt management.

Yes, continuing to overcharge and raise rates on water to pay off debt. Seems appropriate? Doesn’t it? Since play things like the indoor pool and Denty will never produce enough revenue to ever pay for themselves we have to take money from the water enterprise fund to pay debt off.

Which brings us to the building that was approved by ONE person only, Hizzoner himself;

8) Our new City Administration Building , a first since 1936, is being built on time, under budget, and will dramatically enhance service to our employees and residents for decades.

He couldn’t resist to peddle the 1936 lie, again. The city has built dozens of buildings since the 30’s that house administrative support. Besides that, it was not needed. We were getting a good deal on leasing space.

While I have rolled my eyes in the past over the mayor’s Top 10 Wins list, this one has to be the most ridiculous I have ever seen. Notice no mention of affordable housing, fighting crime, or livable wages and employment. Oh, because we are losing on all fronts with those items.

I also find it ironic that while in #4 he mentions our great finances we have yet to see the year end financial report. Why are you and Tracy sitting on this important information Mayor? Are you afraid your puppet candidate for mayor, Entenman, may have to answer some difficult questions about budgeting?

Everyone is Winning and Growing in Sioux Falls, just not our tax revenue

l3wis February 6, 2018 5Comments

Here we go lots of Winning and Growing in Sioux Falls in 2017, but we still haven’t received an end of year financial report. Yesterday during the council meeting, Financial Director Tracy Turbak said that while he has the numbers he won’t be releasing the report until the end of March, maybe.

But hey, who is concerned if our sales tax revenue is flat when we have all these big wins;

“The City of Sioux Falls accomplished so much on behalf of its citizens in 2017,” says Mayor Mike Huether. “These achievements should not be overlooked but celebrated, even as we move into 2018 and continue to capture more wins for the people we serve.”

I guess we will have to wait and see how he polishes that turd.

And while our sales tax revenue may be running flat, our population is growing;

The population of Sioux Falls now is estimated at 183,200, a growth of 4,700 people over the last year.

Population figures relate to housing units required, and housing units consume land area; therefore, the land area needed (and the infrastructure needed to serve this land area) is directly tied to the population figures within annual estimates and projections.

In other words, some of these numbers may be pulled out of their asses

But seriously, over the past 2-3 years, the major contributor to population growth in Sioux Falls has been baby making. But with a 3% population increase, you would think sales tax growth would be going along with that, but it is not.

I think our economy in Sioux Falls, especially for the middle and working class has been stagnant for a long time, and it is finally catching up with us, while the wages are not keeping pace.