South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Taxes

The City of Sioux Falls reveals their lies

l3wis 17Comments

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Today at the SF city council informational meeting there was a presentation of the arterial street plans for 2010-11. As South DaCola reported this week, the developers haven’t put in their fair share. Councilor Staggers questions the city department head about it, and that person reveals that platting fees have brought in $258,000 to date and the .08 cent tax increase has brought in “around $2.09 million”. Staggers then asks who will be paying for the project if the platting fees are not matching the taxpayer’s contribution. (paraphrasing) “I thought the developers were going to share 50% of the cost, that’s what we were told,” Staggers. The city official responds, (paraphrasing) “NO, we did not say that, that was simply a formula we used to get to the $10 million dollar number.”

A formula? More like a load of F’ing Crap!

WE WERE LIED TO in order to RAISE OUR TAXES, AND YES, WE WILL BE PAYING FOR A MAJORITY OF THESE ROADS.

Howard Wood Field Sioux Falls

No Shit Sherlock

l3wis 7Comments

Sometimes you read a Gargoyle Leader ED board editorial and you go, “Really? Nothing like stating the freaking obvious.”

But that is precisely what could happen if the Sioux Falls Sports Authority – and whoever else is behind the idea of building a $33 million stadium – persists in championing this ridiculously utopian version of a sports facility.

Ridiculous? More like completely irresponsible that any tax dollars were wasted on even exploring it.

Another thing: Anyone who thinks Sioux Falls residents would embrace the cost of such a monumental endeavor knows little about our nature.

Exactly. Voters have repeatedly, in recent years, turned down extravagant projects, especially when it involves raising taxes, that includes the Event Center proposal. But the AL is under the impression that we are all on board;

While most residents have made it clear that they think the time has come to build an events center that will serve our future needs,

And where did you pull that poll from? Your asses? I would think that it’s more like 50/50 and when you factor in taxing food more to build it I think those numbers would change even more. If you think a $33 million dollar Howard Wood or the airport saying it is a safety hazard is a deal breaker, you are nuts. A bad location, a piss-poor funding idea, and the lack of public involvement is dooming the new Events Center.

I have to be honest with you, I know I am a cynic, but I would like to see a new EC built, but I believe we can do it differently and we can do it by a taxing fairly (corporate entertainment, advertising and BBB taxes). It just shows how out of touch our supposed city and business leaders are with the rest of the general public.

Daycare Sioux Falls

Imagine that, the city has all kinds of money to chase people around for pouring cement on their own property or not mowing your lawn, but when it comes to investigating felons running daycares, the kitty is dry. Oh and then there is the secrets

l3wis 4Comments

579351_com_daycare

This is one of the better stories the Gargoyle Leader has covered in a long time. The facts are appalling. It’s one thing to allow felons to run daycares, it’s another thing to keep it a secret from the public. And the city’s excuse ‘Not enough money to police the daycares.’ Give me a break. If we can drop millions for a Jr. Football field ‘FOR THE KIDS’ we can spend a little extra policing daycares ‘FOR THE KIDS’. Gawd, I am glad I don’t have children.

Any complaints against Bresson’s day care provider are closed by city policy. Other parents, observers and some providers are asking for increased regulation and transparency of the more than 420 city-registered day cares.

Developers Road Funding Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls plans to start on arterial street projects in 2010 even though developers haven’t held up their end of the bargain

l3wis 2Comments

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Just another boondoggle in the making.

I noticed that Item #25 of the city council meeting was a resolution approving the arterial street development schedule for 2010.

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE PRIORITY ORDER OF PROJECTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN 2010 UTILIZING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM’S ARTERIAL STREET EXPANSION (DEVELOPMENT DRIVEN STREET) PROJECTS.

I find this quite sad and comical considering that we were told when our taxes were increased to pay for these roads that developers would be putting in 50%. Kind of wonder where that 50% will be coming from considering as of August the financial numbers were (page 2);

From the .08 cent increase; $1,815,000

From platting fees; $116,000

But even if you want to get technical, if you want to take the ‘Total’ of the entire second penny, it does not get much better;

From the .92 cent tax; $27,000,000

From platting fees; $434,000

The crux of all this, according to councilor Costello, is that we are $137 million dollars behind on road maintenance in Sioux Falls. Why would we be building NEW streets for developers (who are not ponying up their share) instead of fixing what we have first? Once the developers put in their 50% and we are caught up reasonably on maintenance, then let’s talk building roads outside of Tea, SD.

Once again, the public was lied to, and we will end up picking up the tab for the special interests. Pathetic.
SF City Council Sioux Falls

Like a pack of wolves

l3wis 6Comments

Pack of wolves

Last night at the SF City Council meeting, councilor Staggers was attacked for his stance against the ‘recovery zone’ resolution (fast forward to item #10).

StormLand TV had a great story about the resolution before the vote. Now watch the meeting carefully, and don’t get caught up when Costello talks about ‘saving money’ or when Staggers talks about ‘pork barrel’ spending. The best points to come out of the argument are clear 1) Other communities are more deserving of this money 2) Taxpayers are not really saving any money. The second exchange is the best, Staggers says this in response to Costello’s assumption that he is saving taxpayers $2 million dollars (paraphrasing);

“You are saving the city $2 million, not the taxpayer.  Are you going to give that money back to the taxpayer? No. Because see the city will just spend that money on something else.”

But then Costello goes into a rant about how we will build roads with it and reveals the city is $137 million behind on road maintenance. Gee, I fucking wonder why? Because over the last 8 years we have blown record tax revenue receipts on stupid projects instead the streets. And Kermit’s point is well taken. We save the city $2 million that will ultimately be blown on something else besides streets. SF city government has a proven record of doing just that.

One funny part in the exchange was when Pat was separating the city accounts (1st Penny, 2nd Penny and property taxes) then says (paraphrasing);

“Yeah, I know the money all comes from the same place, but . . .”

That’s right Pat, taxpayers don’t care if you have 3 accounts or 20 accounts, they are the ones putting money into those accounts.

It was truly a sad day when fellow councilors attacked another councilor for trying to protect the reputation of Sioux Falls. Pathetic.

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