The mayor of Sioux Falls has over $3 million dollars sitting in the ‘The Mike Cindy and Kylie Huether Family Foundation’. I was told by a friend that many of the elite in Sioux Falls do this to show off to their friends. Not sure what they plan on doing with the money, but if I had a charity that needed some help, I would go out and take some tennis lessons, then give him a call.
Don’t believe the county has money problems, take a tour of the fairgrounds.
Newsflash! Minnehaha County mismanages money!
Minnehaha County’s deepening financial problems are straining relations with the city of Sioux Falls, which partners with the county on key programs.
The county commission’s decision to cut funding to Metro Communications, the museum system and libraries means the city also could cut funding to those programs, albeit reluctantly.
This is nothing new. I have always thought the county has spent money unwisely. Heck, let’s look at their track record.
• They went and bought a homeless shelter without the support of city money. Do I think the shelter is needed? YES! Do I think the county should be going this alone? NO!
• They also allowed money to be embezzled for years from the SE Fair because of very little oversight.
• They bought an ornate fence for the county administration’s parking lot (yeah, we really needed that).
• They bought a military vehicle for the Sheriff’s department (I guess to capture phone booth VL casino robbers easier).
Heck, I could go ON and ON, and I don’t even follow them that closely.
At least the city is taking a cautionary approach. But one wonders WHO the city IS after reading this quote;
“I am not going to push for more co-op agreements until I’m fully confident we’ve got our own ducks in a row the way I want them,” Huether said.
The way YOU want them? Who died and made you king?
. . . the county wants the city to charge sales taxes at the fair then give that revenue to them? Huh?
Commissioners are proposing that the city begin charging sales tax at the fairgrounds and, in return, give them back about $50,000 a year.
Are our local politicians getting dumber by the day? Believe it or not Vernon ‘The Sweet Velvet Hammer’ Brown was the voice of reason;
Councilor Vernon Brown said he’s not opposed to the county’s suggestion but would like to know what kind of economic impact the fairgrounds has on the city. He added that the city already does some in-kind help for the fairgrounds and has improved some of its access roads.
Exactly. If you want $50,000 from us – just ask. I’m not opposed to charging the sales tax, but we shouldn’t be giving it to the county. Like Vernon says, we do plenty with the roads around the fairgrounds.
This scares me a bit, and makes me a little sick;
Minnehaha County auditor Bob Litz says the county might need to cut back by at least 7 percent in 2012, based on early income and cash flow numbers.
Litz says cash on hand in March was $1.35 million, when it is typically about $4 million at that time of year. He says expenses are running nearly $6 million over income each month.
Commissioners approved a $64 million budget for 2011. That was more than $22,000 less than the 2010 budget.
I just hope they find money for a decorating budget for Bob’s office. Though the cardboard boxes do match his skin tone.
Barth: There wasn’t a sin tax I didn’t love
It is just another SIN tax that affects the poor, working poor and lower middle class. Say what you will about taxing alcohol, which is not a bad thing, I just find the argument that we are somehow punishing the liquor companies by increasing this tax to be silly:
Every day, more booze-related (or booze-caused) costs pile up. Who pays for the ambulance, the helicopter, the squad car, the medical care, the funerals? Certainly not the alcohol industry.
So what is Minnehaha county commissioner Barth’s solution? Tax us more to buy it;
An additional 10 percent sales tax on alcohol is not too heavy a burden. An $8 six-pack of beer would be $8.80. I’d still buy it.
I have a better solution. Stiffer penalties to people who sell underage, stiffer penalties to DUI offenders, and actually force people to pay restitution, or work off that restitution in a work release program while living in jail. Taxing RESPONSIBLE drinkers to pay for the crimes of IRRESPONSIBLE drinkers is idiotic. If someone commits a crime while intoxicated, they should pay for the consequences. Not the average Joe who drinks a tomato beer every once in a while.
l3wis