Mayor's 5-year spending map includes new fire, police stations, $8M move toward Riverline District
Sioux Falls City Hall unveils $1.1B capital improvement plan
A new fire station, a satellite police station, and nearly a half-billion dollars in improvements to the city’s water, sewer, and street systems are on their way in Sioux Falls.
Mayor Paul TenHaken Friday unveiled his latest five-year capital plan in anticipation of next month’s budget address, calling for $1.1 billion in construction projects and equipment purchases between 2025 and 2029.
“As we prioritize the projects in this program, we follow core principles of balanced and responsible budgeting while managing current market conditions and setting our sights on where we want our community to go,” TenHaken said. “Just like our residents continually reprioritize where they spend their money based on their personal circumstances, the city follows the same practice to stay fiscally responsible as stewards of the community’s tax dollars.”
The proposed five-year program includes the construction of what will be the city’s thirteenth fire station, slated for the northeast part of Sioux Falls in 2026. A second police report-to-work station in east Sioux Falls is also budgeted for 2028, and the city intends to act on an option to purchase its existing report-to-work station in southwest Sioux Falls on West 57th Street. More than $25 million of the five-year plan is marked for fire and police vehicles and other safety equipment for these two public safety departments.
The largest portion of the program is dedicated to highways and streets, which is historically the case. Nearly $500 million is planned for investments in roads in Sioux Falls, which is a 9 percent increase from the previous five-year program. Those dollars will include the rehabilitation of more than 680 blocks of roads in neighborhoods in 2025.
Sioux Falls Public Works Director Mark Cotter told The Dakota Scout this week that on top of the city’s share of road spending, the South Dakota Department of Transportation also has another $810 million of projects in store for Sioux Falls and the surrounding area in the next half-decade.
Of that, nearly 60 percent — $475 million — is planned for projects within Sioux Falls — like the South Veterans Parkway initiative, the planned interchange at 85th Street and Interstate 29, and an overhaul of the Cliff Avenue and Interstate 229 interchange, which also includes rerouting East 41st Street to the north to intersect with Cliff Avenue and Lincoln High School.
“Making these timely investments into the transportation systems helps people have reliable commutes,” Cotter said, noting that an efficient and well-maintained road network should result in daily commutes that do not deviate more than one or two minutes. “It should be plus or minus a minute, so we want to reduce their delays and create a safe environment to go from point A to point B.”
Just as it works in lockstep with the state DOT, Public Works will also work alongside the Parks and Recreation Department in the coming years to install underpass walkways in areas like the Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway intersection as well as below the I-229 interchange at Cliff Avenue.
Those areas’ close proximity to parks and the city’s trail system means too many pedestrians are walking across multiple lanes of traffic to access those quality-of-life offerings.
Cotter said at both intersections, the city intends to build a series of tunnels that will allow foot and bicycle traffic to cross without exposure to traffic.
“There’s just a number of lanes of traffic out there so building pedestrian tunnels will create a safe and better experience for pedestrians,” he said.
The mayor’s CIP also maintains budgeting plans for the issuance of the aquatics and recreation bond, which is proposed to bring new indoor and outdoor aquatics experiences specifically for the aging pools at Kuehn Park and Frank Olson Park.
TenHaken’s spending forecast also includes the purchase of eight acres of land near Tenth Street and Cliff Avenue. The proposed $8 million land deal is part of ongoing plans City Hall has in the works to build a convention center near downtown as part of what’s being called The Riverline District.
That purchase would be covered using entertainment tax revenues and would occur in 2025, pending approval of the City Council.
“As stewards of public funding, we thoughtfully and strategically prioritize investments based on the funding available, the plans of our partners, and opportunities that present themselves,” TenHaken said. “We hope City Councilors recognize the positive momentum in our community and the incredible possibilities we have in front of us in Sioux Falls.”
The mayor will present the proposed 2025 budget and Capital Program during a special meeting of the City Council at 3 p.m. on July 25 at Carnegie Town Hall.
Lets remember, the 5 Year Annual Capital Plan is just a plan, the only hear that is set is the first year. Many of these projects have been scheduled, or planned for a few years now such as the new police stations, and a fire station. The mayor recommends specific projects, and the City Council votes on whether or not to pursue them, or not. Keep in mind, the City of Sioux Falls has a tax base of roughly $400,000,000 in city tax revenues, whereas the remaining parts of the annual budget comes from federal grants, state grants, state funds, taxes, TIF monies, municipal and state bonds, federal tax monies, etc. In January of each year, the Mayor provides a State of Affairs Speech, in July, he provides his Annual Recommended Capital Project Plan, and around August 1st, he provides his Annual Budget. The City Council then must meet between August 1st to September 30th to discuss such capital plans, budget, agreeing or disagreeing on the mayors recommended budget, or to choose their own budget themselves.
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