Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday formally approved a nearly $800 million 2027 city budget, but not before several proposed amendments and a few last-minute changes. Here’s a look at what was tossed and what was kept.
Why it matters
- For both Mayor Christine Erickson and the three newly elected City Council members, this budget was largely inherited from the previous administration with little time to review and adjust. That’s in part due to the timing of the election — leaving only a matter of weeks between taking office and needing to make budget decisions.
- Not many major changes were made, but the council did increase funding for Benson Road improvements and for street outreach in the Whittier neighborhood, while opting to cut funding for new turf at the Birdcage.
- Additionally, Councilor Sara Pankonin attempted to cut $120,000 in funding for Flock cameras, automatic license plate readers used by the Sioux Falls Police Department. Her effort was defeated 7-1.
“A number of people in Sioux Falls have used their First Amendment to let us know that they do not agree with being watched,” Pankonin said. “As an elected official, I owe it to these people to bring this forward.”
Tell me more
Pankonin was the lone vote against the 2027 city budget, which passed 7-1. Hers was also the only amendment to fail.
Another of the more contentious items in the budget was a proposed $950,000 to install turf at the Sioux Falls Stadium (aka the Birdcage). Councilors ultimately cut that funding, citing concerns that there isn’t a long-term plan or strategy for the events center complex.
- Earlier in the meetings Tuesday, Councilor Miranda Basye proposed an amendment stating that no turf can be installed until the city has signed a consulting contract related to determining the use of the event center campus.
- Then, she ultimately proposed cutting the funding entirely from the budget, which passed 6-2.
Councilor Rich Merkouris successfully added $175,000 to fund street outreach in the Whittier neighborhood similar to what’s already happening downtown. The idea is to have more people who can intervene before police have to get involved. Merkouris noted that about 25% of the nuisance calls from the city come from the Whittier neighborhood.
“What we need to consider is how do we intervene earlier before law enforcement get involved,” Merkouris said.
Councilor Jennifer Sigette successfully amended the budget by increasing funding for Benson Road improvements by $3.8 million — which she noted is funded largely by outside sources. That passed 8-0.
Basye also proposed an amendment adding some restrictions to the $1 million capital investment in the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, which would use entertainment tax revenue to help fund a new aquarium on the Great Plains Zoo campus.
- Those funds will still be available, but there are a few more stipulations from the city on what’s needed to unlock the money.
Another topic of discussion was a comprehensive plan for downtown Sioux Falls. While it’s not included in the budget passed Tuesday, Merkouris said he’d like to see the city supplement the budget in the next six months to look at a comprehensive plan from 14th Street to Rice Street and Minnesota Avenue to Cliff Avenue.
- That would cover a comprehensive look at how the city wants to use things like the Riverline District, the Sanford District (once Smithfield moves out), the unfinished parking ramp on 10th Street and more.
What happens next?
The budget passed 7-1, and now it’s just a matter of seeing if revenue actually lines up with projections. Councilors can also amend the budget throughout the year if needed.
