During the meeting last night the council and mayor’s office were throwing money at affordable housing like nobody’s business (even though they all know the real problem is low wages).
While there is a lot of pass thru with federal dollars going towards most of this spending you have to ask if some of these issues could be fixed with legislation instead just more handouts to developers and landlords?
The city council could spend ZERO dollars and pass a series of ordinances that address how employment is advertised in the city limits (must list starting pay) having a city minimum wage of $15 per/hr, zoning and development changes to require developers to build a certain percentage of stock as affordable rents.
There are probably hundreds of tax free, cost neutral ordinances the council could pass that would put a huge dent in our housing struggles.
The developers and retailers throw the same red flags everytime ‘We are leaving town, never build here again, closing down my Sioux Falls location!!!’ So you are going to build a $30 million dollar high end apartment complex in Kimball? Or maybe Platte will have you for a $100 million dollar hotel and convention center on the river?
Give me a break! You would adjust to the changes and you would still get all your greedy little tax breaks!
The city council has the power of the pen, but lately all they have been using it for is to sign checks.
Last night after the council passed their $800 million dollar budget I decided to do a little digging.
Sioux Falls, SD with a population of 200K had a 2024 budget of $800 million ($4,000 per person)
Omaha, NE with a population of 500K had a 2023 budget of $1.35 billion ($2,700 per person)
Lincoln, NE with a population of 300K had a 23/24 budget of $253 million ($810 per person)
I find the disparities interesting.