Sioux Falls City News (from reliable sources)

It seems we are rolling in the dough;

Sales tax revenues in Sioux Falls were up 2 percent in February over the same month in 2008, a welcome change after revenues decreased by 1.9 percent the month before.

And the entertainment tax revenue was up to, and everyone’s favorite rule-skirter chimed in;

Kant said he hasn’t seen a slump yet.

“I really think that sometimes in a down economy, people are looking to go out and have a good time, a bite to eat or have a drink,” he said. “People refuse to hole up in the house. Sioux Falls has always been a resilient city.”

And they all come down to my place and smoke $15 dollar cigars and have a glass of $9 scotch then spill douche all over themselves. Come down and join the fun.

But the jobless rate jumped in Sioux Falls – So who is spending this money? Probably people going to Kant’s bar.

Sioux Falls’ unemployment rate breached 5 percent in February, surprising more than a few area economists.

 

Heading into March, there were 4,470 people in the city looking for work out of a labor force of 88,050, according to the state Labor Department.

But what are the underemployed numbers? Would be nice to know.

That’s a 5.1 percent unemployment rate – up dramatically from the 2.8 percent rate a year ago.

“To go over 5 percent for the city, at least this quickly, I’m a little surprised,” said Ralph Brown, professor emeritus of economics at the University of South Dakota.

And Michael Keller, dean of the Beacom School of Business at USD, added: “Absolutely … that’s very significant.”

Unemployment numbers typically rise in the winter months as construction and road projects wind down, Brown said. But there’s no ignoring the jump from February 2008 to the same month in 2009, he said.

 

“That does indicate a real problem,” he said.

Hmmm, wonder if anyone is listening at city hall. As long as everyone keeps going out to eat, smoking cigars and drinking scotch, everything is fine and dandy. It seems whenever problems arise in Sioux Falls that affects actual citizens, like unemployment, the city leaders smoke screen the problems by talking about the positives, like the tax revenue increase. Instead of holding economic forums that focus on how we can raise retail taxes to build an events center and give developers a tax break they should be focusing on new jobs. The trickle down philosophy obviously isn’t working anymore (giving those at the top tax breaks in hopes they will supply jobs to the rest of us working stiffs) – it’s time to focus on the citizens and employment, not playgrounds and tax breaks for the rich.

It also looks like Munson might have to pull out those contracts he signed with RedFlex, and figure out what the Hell he was doing on the days he signed them;

Now, more than two years later, the mayor of Sioux Falls has been ordered to testify in I.L. Wiedermann’s lawsuit over the city’s red-light cameras.

 

Despite his attempts to stay out of court, Mayor Dave Munson must provide sworn testimony in the form of a deposition, Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Caldwell ruled Monday.

Munson’s lawyer doesn’t think he should have to testify, even though Dave’s John Hancock are on those contracts;

Rapid City lawyer Aaron Eiesland, who represents Wiedermann, said he wants to know what the mayor knows about the Redflex contract. He says that Munson has been an important part of the negotiations with the camera system company.

“Mr. Munson signed contracts in October 2003 and November 2006,” Eiesland said. “That indicates he has knowledge of the subject matter.”

Maybe.