Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 2025 Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sioux Falls adopts 2025 budget; adds downtown ambassador and communications funding, trims entertainment-tax land acquisition
Summary
The City Council adopted the 2025 budget and 2025–2029 capital program after several council amendments: $150,000 for a two-year downtown ambassador program, $150,000 for a communications outreach campaign, and a $8.1 million reduction in the entertainment-tax venues budget that removes a 2025 land-acquisition project. The final vote was 8-0.
The Sioux Falls City Council approved the city’s 2025 budget and the 2025–2029 capital program on Sept. 10 after adopting a series of council amendments.
Director of Finance Sean Pritchard summarized the ordinance and the process for incorporating council amendments into both the budget and the subsequent appropriation ordinance. Councilors then introduced and voted on amendments before final passage.
Key amendments the council approved included:
- A $150,000 increase to the Planning & Development Department operating budget to support a two-year Downtown Sioux Falls ambassador program, funded from the general fund restricted fund balance (liquor license proceeds, ordinance 5223). Chief Toombs and Joe Batchelor (Downtown Sioux Falls) described the ambassadors’ role in beautification, hospitality, sanitation and early, nonpolice intervention. Toombs cited the ambassadors’ useful intelligence for policing decisions.
- A $150,000 increase to the Communications Department to launch an outreach campaign that educates residents on nuisance behavior and how to maintain safe, clean public spaces; Chief Toombs referenced the prior "Lock Your Car" campaign and said stolen vehicles are down about 9.5% this year.
- A reduction of $8,100,000 in the 2025 Entertainment Tax Fund venues budget and removal of project 13015 (land acquisition) from the 2025 capital program, a change sponsors said aligns funding timing with earlier actions.
Councilors praised staff and the collaborative amendment process. Councilor Sale and others emphasized investments in public safety and roads as budget priorities.
Final action: after voting through the amendments, the council approved the budget, as amended, on an 8-0 roll-call vote.
What to watch next: amendments will be reflected in the appropriation ordinance that funds the budget; the council recorded motions to incorporate all adopted amendments into the appropriation ordinance later in the meeting.
