Simplified: Sioux Falls could see a new mayor in 2022 – and, while the election will certainly dominate the early part of the year, there are some issues (growth) that'll come up regardless of who's in charge.

Why it matters

  • City spending is tax spending, so there's a reason to pay attention even if you feel bored just hearing the phrase "city government." The City of Sioux Falls has a more than $600 million annual budget funding everything from local parks to road improvements to more than 1,200 employees.
  • It's an election year. Sioux Falls voters will decide who sits in the mayor's desk as well as fill four open seats on the City Council.
  • But, whoever's in charge, the fact remains Sioux Falls is growing quickly. With that growth comes increasing challenges for a city already facing growing crises in housing, child care and workforce availability.
"There's kind of this momentum, this tsunami of growth," Mayor Paul TenHaken told Sioux Falls Simplified. "I don't see that just falling off."

Let's start with the election.

A big factor in what the city focuses on in 2022 will come down to who's leading it.

Voters will decide Sioux Falls' mayor for the next four years, as well as four open City Council seats. They'll also decide whether to give the mayor and city councilors a pay raise.

Here are some important dates to remember:

  • Feb. 25 is the last date a candidate can submit nominating petitions (i.e. the forms that get a name on the ballot). Until this date, we can't say for-sure who will be on the ballot for the open races – though many candidates have announced their interest and intent to run.
  • March 28 is the voter registration deadline. South Dakota requires voters to register ahead of elections, so if you want your voice heard, make sure your registration is in and updated by this date.
  • April 12 is Election Day. Follow Sioux Falls Simplified for candidate profiles ahead of the election as well as a survival guide for voters.

Here's a look at some of the issues the folks who work for the city, as well as the elected leaders who work for the people, will be focusing on this year:

Housing

You can find a detailed breakdown on the city's housing needs here. But the long and short of it is that there aren't enough houses for the folks that need them, and it's especially tough for people who make $15 per hour or less.  

Workforce

Businesses in the city have too many jobs, and not enough workers. As big businesses like Amazon start opening in Sioux Falls next year, the need for workers is only going to increase.

Not to mention, the city has had its own challenges hiring workers. Pools weren't all open last summer because there weren't enough lifeguards, and that's just one example. There are also too few plow drivers, and the city has stepped up its efforts to recruit police officers, too.

Child care

This isn't directly related to city government, but as the need for child care gets greater and greater, it's likely you'll start to see more city officials asking how the city can help child care providers. That's because the need for workers is a need that matters to the city, and workers can't work if they don't have safe, reliable and affordable care for their kids. More on those needs here.

Public transportation

The Sioux Area Metro bus system reduced routes due to staffing issues last year. The city is also having broader conversations about reworking how public transportation, including testing an on-demand service. That testing will continue in 2022.

Sustainability

Sioux Falls is aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. It's part of a broader master plan that will go before the City Council for final adoption this year.

Crime

Police saw a record number of calls for service in Sioux Falls in 2021, largely attributed to population growth. As more people move here in 2022, you can likely expect that trend to continue.

Cannabis

Sioux Falls awarded its first marijuana dispensary licenses in late 2021, which means it's possible the city sees these businesses begin to open in the coming year.

Infrastructure

This won't come up as much in 2022 as we've seen in past years because many projects are already funded and underway, including hundreds of road projects and continued work on the new wastewater treatment plant.

One challenge to watch: Costs. The wastewater treatment plant was planned before the pandemic, and construction and labor costs have gone up dramatically in the meantime. It's already over budget, TenHaken said, and it'll be something the City Council will need to figure out how to fund.

Cool, is that everything?

Of course not. I'm not a fortune-teller.

What my reporting can predict, though, is that these topics will be part of the city government conversations.

As the year unfolds, Sioux Falls Simplified will continue to keep you up-to-date on the happenings of city government. That, you can count on.