Rapid City citizen group marshals ‘No Free Rides’ campaign against $125M Libertyland TIF

Critics call tax incentive offered for patriotic theme park 'corporate welfare' in lead up to Jan. 20 special election in western South Dakota metro

Republican state Sen. Taffy Howard, Pennington County Democratic Party Chairwoman Rene McFarland Haglund, citizen activist Tonchi Weaver, TIF opponent Brian Feiler and No Free Rides chairwoman Lisa Pustejovsky address supporters and the press during an afternoon press conference Tuesday at City Hall in downtown Rapid City. (Joe Sneve / The Dakota Scout)

A new citizens group is urging voters to reject what it says would be the largest tax-increment financing district in South Dakota history when it appears on the Jan. 20 ballot.

The No Free Rides Committee announced its formation Tuesday following a referral effort supported by volunteers who collected more than 5,000 signatures in just 20 days to place the recently approved Libertyland TIF district before voters.

In September, the Rapid City Council approved the TIF for the private Libertyland development. Committee members stressed that the plan is separate from another TIF known as the Catalyst TIF, which involves an indoor sports complex.