South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Rapid City

Rapid City Rapid City Journal Sioux Falls

What are Sioux Falls taxpayers paying in legal fees? Good question.

l3wis 6Comments

As you know, the Argus Leader is embroiled in a Supreme Court case with the city over a secret settlement involving the siding on the Events Center. The city has also been involved with class action suits in recent years which involved millions in settlements, but for some reason, we as taxpayers have no idea how much the city spends on these lawsuits, yet in Rapid City, they not only give us the numbers, they even conclude they may lose the case.

Over that time, the city has spent $374,200 on legal fees. Now, after deciding to appeal a Jan. 27 ruling by a Pennington County jury that absolved Big Sky LLC of any responsibility for the roads, the city expects to sink another $10,000 to $20,000 into a legal battle with an uncertain outcome against a development company that its owner says has no money.

And I think this is a good comparison. Rapid City is a SD city, and the second largest in the State. So why do they see no problem and no legal ramifications with offering this information to their fine citizens, but for some reason we won’t do it in Sioux Falls?

Rapid City Sioux Falls Taxes

2016 Budget comparisons between Sioux Falls & Rapid City

l3wis 2Comments

This is strictly informational. I noticed that Rapid City approved their 2016 budget the other night, so I decided to crunch a few numbers.

I will admit, I would much rather live in SF then RC, but I have friends that live in RC and they love it. They say there is far more recreational opportunities. I still think quality of life is probably better in SF, but that is a matter of opinion.

Now for the numbers;

Sioux Falls proposed 2016 budget; $471 Million, 170K residents, $2,770 per person.

Rapid City’s implemented 2016 budget; $156 Million, 72K residents, $2,167 per person.

I have no doubt there will be some cutting and shuffling going on with the SF budget, but I doubt it will sway to far from the proposed amount.

Jazzfest Rapid City Sioux Falls Steve Allender

The difference between Rapid City and Sioux Falls, well at least in perspective

l3wis 1Comments

Stormland TV gives me one thing, stark irony. First the new mayor of Rapid City comments on The Summer Nights Music Festival;

Despite some problems, Allender likes the way Summer Nights builds community.

“You can have a homeless person standing three feet away from a millionaire and they’re both enjoying the music and tapping their foot and maybe even talking,” he said. “I’ve never been to an event anywhere near that, that closeness and that bringing people together.”

Then there is Rob Joyce’s comments on JazzFest (he is the leader of SF Jazz & Blues Society);

“I step up on stage and I see young people, teenagers, young kids sitting with grandparents or sitting with people who are much older. And they’re all enjoying the same afternoon. They’re all enjoying the same music,” said Joyce.

Hey, but if you go walk along the Big Poo after dark to take a hit on a left-handed cigarette, you might find some homeless dancing (or sleeping). Millionaires not welcome.

 

Media Rapid City

Columnist should learn the basics of municipal government before writing about it

l3wis 10Comments

Yes, municipal governments work with the school districts in their respective territories and often school and municipal elections share a ballot like they will next Tuesday in Rapid City, BUT . . . (Stu Whitney column)

Building a new sports and entertainment complex. Working to improve race relations. Finding ways to ensure schools are properly funded. Forging relationships with businesses to spark growth.

This is what you get when you take a sports writer and turn him into a city columnist overnight. Lack of understanding.

Municipal governments have NO control over School District funding, and vice versa.

While it is nice for the mayoral candidates to weigh in on the school district opt-out in Rapid City or school start dates in Sioux Falls (as our mayor thought appropriate) they really have no control over it. That is NOT a leadership issue, it is a governing/jurisdiction issue.

Please, do us all a favor and do a little research on the basic tenants of local government. After all, it is where the big decisions are made, not in publicly supplemented indoor tennis courts.

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