Mayors lament anti-growth, anti-tax lawmakers

Chamber forum brings mayors of Brandon, Harrisburg, Sioux Falls and Tea to discuss Sioux Empire partnerships

From left to right Tea Mayor Casey Voelker, Harrisburg Mayor Derick Wenck, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, Brandon Mayor Harry Buck and moderator Joni Ekstrum. (Jonathan Ellis/The Dakota Scout)

The Greater Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will be releasing its scorecard on area lawmakers next month, but if a couple area mayors had their way, the grades wouldn’t be high.

Tax policy and the Legislature’s recent action – or inaction, depending on where you sit – dominated a forum hosted by the Chamber Wednesday. Much of the conversation focused on how the mayors of Brandon, Harrisburg, Sioux Falls and Tea cooperate with regional growth goals, but the conversation also veered into the recent legislative session.

It was a session that saw the Legislature pass a temporary property tax bill that limits growth in revenues for local governments. Cities also lost a bid to add another penny of sales tax for capital improvement projects – an iteration of a bill that has been floated off and on in the Legislature for more than 15 years.

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