Simplified: Mayor Christine Erickson delivered her first budget address on Thursday – outlining $794 million in city spending in 2027. Big priorities include public safety, infrastructure and quality of life. Here's a closer look.

Why it matters

  • Unlike last year's budget, which contained about $5 million in permanent cuts, the emphasis this year was on "holding the line" to give Erickson's administration time to get acclimated and set the tone moving forward.
  • Erickson noted that every new mayor inherits their first budget, but hers came in a particularly truncated timeline due to the later-than-usual city election aligned with the state primary and further prolonged by the run-off. Her budget address was less than two weeks after being sworn in as mayor.
  • While most of the budget is unsurprising and keeps spending fairly status quo, there are a couple of areas where Erickson is proposing spending a little more.
    • The budget proposes a $4 million investment in the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium and an ongoing $2.5 million annual investment in the new Sanford District downtown.
    • It also proposes 11 new full-time employees (eight in public safety), and Erickson noted outside of public safety, the property tax cuts will mean holding off on full-time positions that are essential to city services.
"Sioux Falls will keep growing, but our team will be challenged to keep up," Erickson said.

Tell me more about the budget

Here's a breakdown of some of the big budget categories and notable projects within each category.

Public safety

  • A $3.3 million increase to wages for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, marking a 10% increase year-over-year in full-time wage and benefit spending,
  • Six new full-time police officers, as well as a $3.1 million increase to full-time wage and benefits.
    • Budget documents indicate the wage and benefit increases are due to normal inflationary adjustments as well as an "above-average health insurance premium."

Additionally, capital improvements for public safety in 2027 include:

  • $2.4 million on a new fire apparatus vehicle,
  • $1.6 million on patrol vehicles,
  • A combined nearly $190,000 on new radios for police and fire,
  • $465,000 in dispatch equipment for Metro Communications.

Roads

  • $1.7 million decrease in motor grader rentals after the city voted to spend $2.4 million last year to purchase motor graders, rather than renting. The goal is to save money long-term.
  • One new full-time signal technician

Capital projects include:

  • 41st Street and Louise Avenue intersection reconstruction,
  • Reconstruction of Benson Road from I-29 to Westport Avenue,
  • Reconstruction of Minnehaha County Highway 130, north of Foundation Park – adjacent to where the new Smithfield pork plant is expected to be built,
  • Reconstruction of Phillips Avenue from Eighth to 10th Streets and River Road,
  • And rehabilitation of approximately 700 blocks per year through street maintenance programs.

Libraries and parks

  • $1.5 million in neighborhood park improvements,
  • $2.3 million in greenway and trail improvements,
  • $2.5 million in zoo master plan improvements
  • $57,000 increase in security spending at the downtown library

How did the council respond?

Well, three of the councilors are also on their second week on the job and learning at a breakneck pace.

Councilor Zak Okuwe said getting acclimated as a councilor and diving into the budget has been more work than campaigning – and that's saying a lot from the man who knocked every door in his district at least once (many twice).

"There's a lot coming at us, so we'll have to be laser-focused the next several weeks," Okuwe said.

Councilor James Oppenheimer said he's pleased to see investments in roads and in the zoo, but he's also excited to dig into the budget in more detail.

Councilor Miranda Basye said she really respects the decision to hold the line and not go deeper into the "recalibration" and further budget cuts. She also appreciates the emphasis on supporting neighborhoods through road and park improvements.

  • Basye also said she's got further questions on some budget items and wants to be really intentional about any full-time employees outside of public safety, knowing the costs that adds to the city.

Councilor Jennifer Sigette said she's most excited about the tone Erickson has set early on that she wants to collaborate with the council and bring them in earlier on projects.

"It's a night and day difference," Sigette said, adding that it's clear Erickson respects the role of councilors having served as one for eight years before being elected mayor.