City budget offers fresh look at future projects
July 21, 2022
Delivering what he called a “people- and personnel-focused budget” that will deliver city services to a growing population, Mayor Paul TenHaken also offered a glimpse of projects ahead Thursday.
TenHaken presented his $646.2 million budget, which includes an operating budget of $306 million, to the Sioux Falls City Council,
The remainder includes utility costs funded by user fees and capital improvement projects, including some signature ones coming in 2023.
The Sixth Street bridge, newly dubbed the Unity Bridge, will be among the largest investments of 2023. The city showed a new look at the structure in the budget address.
“We’re trying to create a bridge where people want to stand and look at the river instead of just using it to get across the river,” TenHaken said, adding there will be planters to separate the sidewalk from the roadway and design work done to honor change makers who have helped unite Sioux Falls throughout the years.
The city also offered an update look at Jacobson Plaza, the future downtown ice rink and accessible playground funded through a partnership between the city and the Jacobson family.
It’s on track to open by the holiday season of 2023.
The 2035 Downtown Plan will envision downtown’s development for the next 10 years, TenHaken added.
“And we are reimagining our city’s namesake park through the Falls Park Master Plan to establish Falls Park as a sought-after destination across the region and country. This plan will build on the exciting new developments happening at Jacobson Plaza.”
An updated rendering of the next phase of the River Greenway project.
The overall budget “puts our city on the right course for the future — a course that accounts for our record growth, economic variations and shared values through the One Sioux Falls framework that continues to inform our investments,” TenHaken said.
“This budget is more than numbers — it encompasses our community values. Through this budget, we are responsible for making strategic investments that will enhance quality of life and solidify Sioux Falls as one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family for future generations.”
The city is forecasting a 4 percent growth in sales tax revenue, which would be well below recent performance, and anticipating a 20 percent increase in project costs, which has been experienced this season.
“We have made several deliberate decisions with this in mind. We have hit pause on the construction of some new and expanded projects throughout the plan, recognizing the impact of cost escalation. We have given thoughtful consideration to balancing maintenance of our current infrastructure and facilities with investments in new infrastructure demands due to growth,” TenHaken said.
“It is critical that we take a prudent approach that recognizes the volatility within the economy and aligns our revenues to foundational investments.”
For a closer look at programs, new staffing and priorities, click below.
And for a closer look at projects including several major road investments, click below.
What projects will the city of Sioux Falls tackle next? Here’s the $931M plan
