The newest Event Center Task Force member, Boris
I really think the reason the Event Center task force is pushing for the bigger 18,000 seat facility isn’t because they think we need it, but because it is an excuse to raise our retail taxes by a penny.
Case in point, Â I think it was task force member Terry Baloun (?) who said, (paraphrasing) “If we were to use the the Bed and Booze tax we are looking at a much smaller facility.”
and as I mentioned earlier last week, councilor Quen Be De Knudson said at a joint county/council meeting, (paraphrasing) “I can’t wait to raise taxes to 7 cents so we can build all kinds of nice things for this city.”
These two statements have really gotten me thinking. They know they can build a smaller facility DT with a bed and booze tax, but it would require a retail tax increase (which would raise an estimated $100 million a year) to build a monstrosity at the convention center location and rebuild Howard Wood.Â
Don’t be fooled by the ‘NEED’ for an 18,000 seat facility, this is about increasing our taxes by a penny. That tax will never, ever go away, the De Knudsons of the world will just find other things to spend that $100 million on each year.
It really surprises me that a person who claims to be an advocate for immigrants and the less fortunate supports taxing food to build an entertainment facility. What are you spiking the honey with these days De?
It wouldn’t surprise me if this was the case.
I been throwing the idea around with people. I talked to a few businessmen last night, and they say it would be a lot easier to get this thing passed if they did a B & B and built it DT. But hey, the EC Task Force are know-it-alls and we are all wrong.
Watch the 2nd half of this program, Litz and Baloun talk about the Event Center.
http://www.siouxfalls.org/CityLink16/Programs/Regular_Programs/inside_town_hall/ith_08_24_2009.aspx
I noticed that Baloun kind of paused when he said, “We would LIKE to put the tax increase to a public vote.” In other words the legislation has not been written yet. I’m curious if the Municipal League will be pushing for letting city councils raising the tax on their own. We will have to keep a close watch this winter when this hits Pierre.
OK ! people the event center is long over due it has been way to long in coming the longer we wait the high the cost well go! if it cost another penny in taxs’ so be it. in the long run it well create more job all around every one needs to look at this with open eyes’, and see what it means to the city of Sioux Falls not only in a business point of view but the entertement value. I myself I am tired of seeing top acts pass us by.