Sioux Falls City Council weighs in on TenHaken's $654M recommended budget

Trevor J. Mitchell
Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Carnegie Town Hall

The Sioux Falls City Council held the first budget hearing Tuesday for Mayor Paul TenHaken's proposed 2022 budget of $654.2 million, with councilors asking questions on departments including human resources, public works and communications.

TenHaken called it a "meat and potatoes" plan intended to effectively manage the growth of the city, one that didn't have any controversial items.

More: Massive reconstruction of 41st Street and I-29 interchange part of $654.2M Sioux Falls city budget proposal

At least through the first meeting, he seemed to be right. Comments from councilors were largely neutral, and occasional frustrations expressed were aimed at longer-term problems they wanted to see fixed.

Here’s what you need to know:

New employees

The 2022 budget recommends the hiring of 23 new full-time employees, including three police officers, an assistant city attorney and a grants coordinator.

Councilor Pat Starr asked Bill O'Toole, the city's human resources director, about the city's efforts to improve diversity.

More: Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns leaves behind a strong talent base, but 'not satisfied' with diversity

O'Toole said while the city is aware of disparities, there wasn't a specific dollar amount he could point to that was meant to address diversity.

O'Toole also talked about $350,000 in the budget for part-time wages, an effort to address hiring challenges the city has dealt with during the past year.

Roads

Director of Public Works Mark Cotter spoke about several major projects in the budget, including improvements to Marion Road near Foundation Park to prepare for developments like Amazon and CJ Food's facilities.

The interchange of 41st Street and I-29 will also be renovated, with the addition of the state's second diverging diamond interchange.

More: Here's where medical marijuana could be sold under Sioux Falls' proposed rules

Cotter also discussed the renovation of the 6th Street Bridge, which TenHaken has proposed be named the Unity Bridge and potentially feature statues of important residents.

Water reclamation

A significant part of the city's budget is going toward the expansion of the water reclamation treatment facility, which totals $116.1 million of the capital program and will need an additional wastewater operator, the budget recommends.

Studies are also being undertaken on sanitary sewer expansions that would open up large plots of land in western and southern Sioux Falls for potential growth of the city, Cotter said.

Two more budget hearings are scheduled at 3 p.m. Aug. 10 and Aug. 17 in Carnegie Town Hall.