Sioux Falls approves $794 million budget and urban forestry expansion

The Sioux Falls City Council has approved a nearly $800 million budget for 2027, totaling $794 million with a $317.2 million general operating budget. The approved budget includes the addition of street-level services for the Whittier neighborhood but removes a proposed $1 million expenditure for new turf at Sioux Falls Stadium. Councilors requested a master plan for the stadium campus and a lease review with the Sioux Falls Canaries before proceeding with the turf installation.

In environmental news, the city’s Forestry Team is expanding the urban forest to combat the impacts of the emerald ash borer. Following the planting of 1,200 trees this spring, the CommuniTree Assistance Program is scheduled to plant an additional 1,600 street trees this fall. This initiative, funded by a U.S. Forest Service grant, targets residential parking strips in areas with low tree canopy. The program covers the costs of the trees, installation, and one year of maintenance.