|
 Economy/Jobs:
Sioux Falls is not immune to the national recession. While it is true our city is not suffering to the degree that many other cities are, we still cannot ignore the negative effects that the recession is having on our community. Nowhere is the evidence more clear than with the city’s budget. Nearly every month recently, the sales tax collections were below expectations. Tough times require tough decisions.
Families living in the Southeast District of the city have already experienced job layoffs, a softened housing market, and the small business owners that I have talked to are experiencing reduced sales as well. Many had to hold back on hiring or investing additional capital in their businesses. This in turn adds to the diminished sales and use tax collections that are the primary source of revenue for City government. Of course the City Council should always be watchful and efficient with your tax dollars, but times like these demands an even sharper eye be placed on expenditures.
At the same time, this does not mean that we stop looking to the future. On the contrary, the one thing the City can and must do is make sure that we maintain a strong community foundation for growth. The City’s role is not to create jobs, but build the infrastructure and maintain a quality of life that encourages private sector businesses to continue to invest here.
City Budget – Spending and Taxes
Our City’s charter requires the Mayor and his administration to prepare the budget each year and present it to the Council. Budget decisions do not have to be complicated. If the revenue projections are not meeting expectations, then it is the Council’s job to prioritize where to spend these limited resources.
Public safety
This is priority one for me. Our city is growing, and with it comes the risk of more crime. One of the main reasons we all live here is that Sioux Falls has been a safe city for most of us and we cannot let that fact change. Businesses invest in safe cities, families thrive in safe cities, and futures are built in safe cities. One specific issue that the City will be facing soon, are the nine new police officer positions that were established with the help of federal stimulus money. When that money goes away, we must find a way to keep our police and fire protection at the level necessary as we grow.
Infrastructure
Streets/sewer/water – the essentials of any good city government. These basics are too often taken for granted, yet are one of the main functions of city government. Currently, portions of the second penny sales tax, originally instituted many years ago to keep our streets maintained, have been used for other capital improvements. While I am not opposed to using a small portion of this money, the majority of the dollars from this source must be used to make sure our streets are improved first. Then and only then can we use any portion of this fund for other projects.
Quality of Life
It is the reason we live here, and others want to as well. Parks, pools and other public recreational and entertainment facilities are all parts of a good quality of life that the City helps provide. But so is healthcare, an efficient transportation routing system and of course our schools. The cooperation that currently exists between the City, County and School District must continue and even be enhanced as our community grows.
A big issue right now is the proposed new events center. The Mayor's Events Center Task Force recommendation includes a temporary increase in the City's general sales tax rate, with this new revenue to be used for the construction of the facility. However, and as noted in the Task Force's report, the City of Sioux Falls has already reached the maximum allowed by state law (2%). Therefore it will take action by the State Legislature to raise the ceiling before this funding source can be used. Legislation was proposed in the 2010 Legislative session to allow cities to increase their sales tax rate by an additional one cent, provided the voters in each city are allowed to vote on such an increase. This legislation was defeated in committee.
Regardless of what happens with the sales tax issue in the future, I believe that good planning demands that contingency plans be included for any major project. When elected to City Council, I will work hard to insure that all major projects explore all reasonable funding options, and where appropriate, include a contingency plan should the first option become unworkable.
|
Visit me on Facebook. Click logo
|
 |
Paid for by Supporters of Sue Aguilar for City Council
|
