The 2nd penny was designed to help pay for roads and infrastructure, like sewer plants, but city hall seems to be clueless about it;
Stehly’s repeal efforts, though, face long odds of gaining success. T.J. Nelson, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Paul TenHaken, said the administration opposes the resolution because it is a less equitable way to provide sewer service to Sioux Falls residents.
That’s because right now, sewer and water customers — including businesses like big box stores and industrial type companies — pay for what they use. Nelson said if the city shifted from consumption-based pricing, the average citizen who pays sales tax could end up subsidizing water and sewer services for the heaviest water and sewer users in the city.
“Councilor Stehly’s proposal goes completely against the heart of the issue,” he said. “Her resolution would to have the opposite effect of what she thinks it will.”
Yet every time I go buy groceries or anything in this town I am subsidizing people who are attending shows at the Denty. Doesn’t that go against the ‘Heart of the Issue?’ Why should I have to pay extra for milk and eggs so people can be entertained? If we truly want to use user fees, then we need to have the users of the Denty pay for the Denty.
Stehly’s proposal is simple, use user fees to pay for operating and maintenance of the sewer system, use the 2nd penny to upgrade the infrastructure of the sewer system. It’s not rocket science, in fact it is the fiscally responsible thing to do and worked for decades in Sioux Falls until the former mayor had to get his mitts on extra money for his play things.
Also, the bigger question is why didn’t hear about this expansion until after the election, they have known about this for a very long time (Public Works).
UPDATE: I wrote about this TWO years ago, changing all the entertainment facilities in Sioux Falls over to Enterprise Funds.
Since when has this city given a shit about equitable?
The planned sewer rate increases are reasonable and the city sales tax should be a backup source if the rate of growth does meet expectations.
2nd penny should never been used for the event center. Huether knew he could not get the denty paid for by property taxes or ticket user fees by the voters.
We should create a third penny to solve all of our problems. The promotional campaign for it could be: “It’s only a penny.” (Like the two dollars a month with our property taxes. 🙁 )
This city is on its way to taxing out the propwrty owners who are always footing the bill for everything. Not sure why people believe this city is affordable when a “city” this size surrounding by even smaller communities tries to price things at the rate of much larger cities that are surrounded by much larger towns offering much more as far as entertainment, shopping/grocery options, local services, schools (did you see the recent local scores for the schools?!) and more at lower costs. Something is right when this state claims to be conservative but spends like liberals and wants socialiam standards for everyone to take care of everyone else whether they can afford it or not.
As a borderline socialist myself, I don’t have a problem with paying taxes to help others. But let me clarify, helping others that are in ‘Need’. True need. Roads, sewers, public education, free or almost totally free parks and other quality of life. But it seems we are paying more for ‘needs’ to subsidize the elite’s ‘wants’. Why should my sewer and water rates go up so I can subsidize Garth Brooks?
I did see the SFSD’s report card and felt the Argus did a good job covering that, I was going to blog about it, but really didn’t see the need to pile it on. But I will say this, I find it interesting that one of the wealthiest and well funded school districts in the state is way behind in education compared to smaller schools. Even with all the top heavy administrators and options for the students getting a ‘well rounded’ education, it seems all the money in the world can’t fix it. That was one of my biggest arguments against the massive school bond, it did nothing to actually address ‘education’ it’s all brick and mortar that only lines the pockets of banksters, contractors and bond investors. Our fiscal priorities on all levels in SF is completely out of whack.
Sorry, but I couldn’t resist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSaC-YbSDpo
Well there is one thing I am NOT borderline on, look how hot she was in this video;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G333Is7VPOg
I love early Madonna! And I love the t-shirt she is wearing in the video you picked out too, l3wis.
Dakota Territory and NiteCity, those were the good old days!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTpA0_uNSGI&list=RDThHz9wlBeLU&index=9
For entertainment at work I change the words to crappy old pop songs that play above me on the speaker. This one has always been, “Hollindaies . . . on my eggs.”
“…crappy old pop songs?” 🙁
I told someone once that the name of the station is ‘The Karate Kid Soundtrack Network’.