Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken outlines cuts he blames on lawmakers

Community health, pool and library hours are all on the chopping block

Library hours, pools and three school-based community health centers will all suffer cuts in next year’s Sioux Falls budget because of legislation passed in Pierre that caps property tax growth, Mayor Paul TenHaken said Thursday.

TenHaken has warned for months since the passage of Senate Bill 216 that cuts to city services were coming. He put meat on the bone to what that looks like going forward.

Outdoor pools will close after the first weekend in August. TenHaken said data show that attendance drops off dramatically then, and staffing becomes an issue. Libraries will open an hour later and close an hour earlier.