Mayor Addresses Council on Financial Future of Sioux Falls

Mayor Mike Huether addressed city council yesterday during his Capital program presentation, covering plans ahead for 2016 to 2020.

Building projects like the Denny Sanford Center means the city has incurred some debt, and Huether hopes it will be paid off by 2019.

The five year plan totals 556.6 million dollars in spending

Major improvements to roads are proposed, first by assessing each of the 75 square miles of roads with a laser scanning device.  Sycamore, Maple, Marion Road north of I-90, as well as the 8^th and 12th street bridges are eyed for replacement or repair.

The Mayor stressed being proactive for continued growth, rather than reacting to it, including utility upgrades, sewer service, downtown parking, city parks, a new fire station and developing Foundation Park.  He described the sources of revenue as nearly 50 percent coming from the second penny sales tax and approximately 25 percent from user fees.

Huether often refers to Sioux Falls as a boom town but sees the responsibility to be financially responsible.

The Sioux Falls City council will continue to go over the details of the budget throughout the summer.