The Pierre City Commission has approved a $62.5 million budget for 2023.

City Finance Officer Twila Hight says sales tax revenues for the town have increased.

Hight says there’s been a small increase in property tax revenue.

An 8% increase in the water rate had been expected to go into effect in January for Pierre municipal water customers to help pay for the new drinking water treatment facility. But, Hight says, that rate won’t go up and neither will the wastewater or electric utility rates.

The Pierre City Commission also kept an extra million dollars in the budget for street projects, upgrading primary electric distribution lines, replacing lights at the Griffin Park baseball field, resurfacing the aquatic center indoor pool and funding departmental and equipment needs for City operations.

Pierre’s budget runs on a calendar year. The majority of the it’s funds comes from sales tax, the rates paid for utilities and a small property tax allotment.

The Pierre City Commission has passed the town’s 2023 budget and eliminated an expected utility rate increase in the process.

Mayor Steve Harding says the $62.5 million budget includes no increases to wastewater, water or electric utility rates. He says an 8% water rate increase was voted in by the public to help pay for the City’s new water treatment facility. However, that project is coming in under budget which means the increase is unnecessary.

Harding says buoyed by strong sales tax receipts and a modest property tax increase, the City kept an extra million dollars in the budget for street projects, is upgrading primary electric distribution lines, replacing lights at the Griffin Park baseball field, resurfacing the aquatic center indoor pool and funding departmental and equipment needs for City operations in the 2023 budget.

Harding says in the last several years, Pierre has undertaken some large and long-awaited projects. The new drinking water process will be online soon. The rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment plant is underway, and the outdoor pool is starting to take shape. He says these projects can’t happen in one construction season, but their benefits are well worth the wait.

So far during Harding’s leadership, the city commission has focused funding on infrastructure, equipment and building improvements. These efforts are resulting in the modernization of Pierre’s three largest utilities –electric, wastewater and drinking water – as well as street improvements and a new outdoor swimming pool.

The City’s budget runs on a calendar year. The majority of the City’s funds comes from sales tax, the rates paid for utilities, and a small property tax allotment.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.