South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

SF City Council

SF City Council

CITY FINANCIAL NEWS; SIOUX FALLS

l3wis 4Comments

The nerd in me likes combing over city reports in search for tidbits. I found a couple today in last month’s financial report and a curious abatement request in the city council agenda.

First with the financial report, it seems we were down from last year in April, but still up for the year, barely. I suspect though we will come out ahead by year’s end. But I also think that the recession has hit Sioux Falls, and will still be affecting us next year at this time. The one thing I have noticed about South Dakota is the recession recovery takes longer, because of our modest lifestyles and lack of middleclass wealth. It will be interesting to watch the budget hearings for 2010.

 

April                       2009                       2008

Sales/Use Tax    2,810,791             2,848,615

CIP TAX               2,586,144             2,620,749

ENT. Tax             316,418                 329,390

Lodging Tax        46,289                   30,731

Total YTD

Sales/Use Tax    12,936,792           12,773,818

CIP TAX                11,902,105           11,752,056

ENT. Tax              1,463,368             1,382,215

Lodging Tax        148,798                  126,698

In the city council agenda, I found and interesting property tax abatement request;

3.

Lifelight Communications Inc., 2601 S. Western Avenue, for 2008 property taxes in the amount of $8,479.51. Lifelight was granted exempt status in 2009 and they are now requesting abatement for the 362 days owned in 2008.

 

While I don’t have a problem with non-profits getting tax exempt status to get a relief in taxes, I find it curious that Lifelight would buy property without having the status setup first to get this tax relief. I’m kind of on the fence about the abatement, since it isn’t very much, but will be curious what LifeLight’s argument will be at the meeting. I guess if I was establishing a non-profit, I would get my status in check before buying property, but hey, what do I know, I’m just a heathen.

Event Center SF City Council

No Location. No Pricetag & No Funding. No Problem.

l3wis 10Comments

Only our genius city council would set aside funding for an election that may not happen. Unless the legislature approves letting municipalities raise the regressive tax on food and utilities 2 cents this vote will never take place.

A public vote on whether to finance a new events center in Sioux Falls probably will be held during the 2010 general election, two Sioux Falls city councilors say.

 

The council will budget about $3,000 to pay for the expenses associated with printing ballots should the issue go to voters.

“The idea is to get the most citizens to weigh in on it,” Councilor Pat Costello said.

Weigh in on what? It is a complete mystery what the EC task force is doing. Heck, the SF School board doesn’t even know.

economy SF City Council Sioux Falls

Economics Major to take city finance department to task for their poor economic contingency plan?

l3wis 2Comments

I saw this on the agenda for next Monday’s Sioux Falls city council informational meeting,

Mark Weber, a Sioux Falls resident with an advanced degree in economics, will be giving a presentation on; Local Labor Market and Sales Tax

 

I also thought his name sounded familiar and found this from an Argus Leader story;

But Mark Weber, a Sioux Falls resident with an advanced degree in economics, warns that city officials would be wise to plan for a scenario where tax revenues actually decrease from the previous year. Rising unemployment levels will impact sales tax collections and lead to greater delinquencies in property taxes.

“Nowhere in this contingency plan is a plan for a more drastic alternative,” Weber said. “I believe their department is in a world that doesn’t reflect the reality that’s coming.”

Despite slowing growth last year, the city actually finished with $1.6 million more than budgeted, caused by some one-time funds and better-than-expected revenues from investment income.

I can’t wait to hear the presentation.

I thought it was peculiar because citizens are not really allowed to speak at informational meetings unless invited or asked to by invitation from the city or a councilor. He would have had to ask permission. I heard that some councilors were surprised he got the permission, because they have a feeling he is going to chastise the Finance department.

Homeless SF City Council Sioux Falls

City leader’s priorities, once again, screwy

l3wis 2Comments

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You would think after the mayor had to kick a transient out of Minerva’s last week that city leaders would understand that by spending money on public safety up front you save taxpayer’s money in the long run? Nope.

Councilor Pat Costello asked why the city should be involved if that funding will take care of most of the project.

In 2008, the Project Safe Home pilot program offered permanent housing to 20 individuals. The county operates Dakota House on North Minnesota Avenue, which is being used for the project.

The project cut annual homeless services costs in half – from $32,000 per person to provide health care, detoxification, other county services and to jail homeless people who ran afoul of the law, to $16,260 per person for pilot program participants.

See, when our Councilors talk about living in a ‘Blessed Community’ they are talking about the one they envision, and it doesn’t include helping the homeless, because as far as they are concerned, they do not exist.

Councilor Greg Jamison said his constituents tell him they support helping homeless families instead and told Brown he would need to be convinced the center could help those families.

Huh? Because only homeless people who reproduce are important? They are ALL important. Greg is starting to sound like his old man on this issue. Like I said, this is about more then helping people, it is about public safety. Or maybe Mayor Munson enjoys getting punched by homeless people? Funny how they won’t blink an eye for $170,000 crappers at McKennan Park or Million dollar windows at the Pavilion, but when it is time to spend money on public safety, it turns into some huge f’ing pissing match.  Guess what, it is okay to spend tax payer money on public safety. Especially when it proves to save us money in the long run and keep us more safe.

They really are dumber then I thought.

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