For Immediate Release
Contact: Councilor Pat Starr- Northeast District – (605) 321-9680 – pstarr@siouxfalls.org
“Today I am recommending the Sioux Falls City Council set aside remaining COVID – ARPA funds granted the City by the State and Federal governments to be used in a program for assisting homeowners in improving the integrity of their homes.
“There are funds remaining in the ARPA program,” said Starr “and these should be set aside in a revolving fund available to our current homeowners and those to come in order to guarantee the stability of that housing market.”
“The Mayor has not told our City Council or residents the amount of remaining funds and before they are wasted on potentially dubious projects, the remaining funds should be used as a homeowner TIF (Tax Increment Financing) type program for our hard hit neighborhoods” Starr added.
“The program could be set up as a revolving small loan fund, allowing future citizen homeowners to borrow funds to keep their homes and property in good condition and thus preventing their neighborhoods from becoming blighted.”
Starr concluded by saying “We have a great and growing city and will continue to be only if we help those who can least afford to make even small investments before their property falls into disrepair.”
END ALL TIF’s of all kinds.
PAY DOWN DEBT.
These funds were deposited within our “Treasury” a year ago. I noticed them right a way when the 2020 CAFR came out. From Year to year, the City maintains roughly $250,000,000 +/- in cash reserves. However, the 2020 CAFR noted we had $300,000,000 in cash reserves. If you do the math, you can account for $47,000,000 that we got from these COVID-19 ARPA Funds. If I recall, and if Scott can help me remember, the City has apportioned thru supplementary budgeting – it spent I think $19,000,000 sometime between April 2020 and May 2020. If this is the case, would we not have roughly slightly more than 50% of the funds left over?
Mike, great question, but as Pat points out, unfortunately the Mayor and his Finance director are hiding that from the council and citizens, mind you, 2 weeks away from an election. It may not be unlawful, but it is certainly extremely unethical and immoral.
I do not know if they are actually hiding it thought. I think if you or someone can help figure out the numbers, I think we can connect some dots. If you look on page 30 of the recently published 2021 CAFR – check this out:
Cash/Cash Equivelents………………..$376,799,000
-Unrestricted Funds…………………….-304,994,000
Balance Left Over……………………….$71,805,000
Add the $10,000,000 + $2,500,00 + the other supplemental funds appropriated in the past month, you get $87,000,000 reserves.
I believe the CAREACT FUNDS were deposited in our “Cash” so you have to look deep into our Treasury to find them. THey slowly appropriate them over time.
Our city maintains $250,000,000 in cash reserves from year to year?…. Huh, can anyone say: “Tax rebate time?”…