Commission OK’s $113M budget, lowers property tax mill levy

By: 
Dave Baumeister, county correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – The 2021 Minnehaha County budget for just under $113.3 million was finalized by commissioners at their Sept. 29, meeting.
 
Two notable points about this budget is that it does not include any additional opt-out money, plus it also allows for a 3.322 (6 percent) decrease in the property tax levy, which will mean a slight reduction in the county’s portion of most property tax bills next year.
 
Feeling even more generous, commissioners unanimously approved a two-day “free pick-up” event at the county’s gravel pit south of Hartford.
 
The items available there include concrete and corrugated metal pipes of various sizes, wooden phone poles and fence posts, as well as wooden and concrete planks.
 
County Highway Superintendent DJ Buthe said that having the free event will save the county thousands of dollars in fees at the Sioux Falls landfill while providing a benefit to county residents who can make use of these items.
 
In addition, he said, staff will be on hand to help load items, but anyone who wants these things will have to sign a waiver of liability in case of an accident.
 
Second reading
 
There was also a second reading of a zoning ordinance amendment that would make it easier to place manufactured homes in the county.
 
Under the current ordinance, such units could be put in place but a rectangular foundation built down to the frost line had to be installed under each.
 
Following the commission’s 5-0 approval, that requirement was eliminated in favor of aluminum skirting that is now required around these homes.
 
Planning officer Kevin Hoekman estimated that this would save property owners between $6,000 and $8,000.
 
He told commissioners that in August, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved this amendment in order to come in line with federal HUD standards for manufactured housing.
It was also noted that since municipalities have their own requirements, this change would solely affect mobile homes in the county.
 
Commissioner Dean Karsky said that the mobile homes this amendment deals with would mainly be for situations where parents might want to put a home on their property for a family member helping on their farm.
 
In fact, looking at filings from earlier this year, only five mobile home permits were issued in Minnehaha County.
 
Commission meetings begin at 9 a.m. Tuesdays on the second floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at Sixth and Minnesota in Sioux Falls. Public comment is always encouraged, but those who attend in person are reminded that social distancing guidelines limit the number of people in the meeting room at one time.
 

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