By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – During public comment at this week’s Tuesday, July 25th Minnehaha County Commission meeting, former County Commissioner Bob Kolbe suggested a way for the county to increase revenue.
In the past, commissioners have discussed – and even tried to get measures through the legislature – being able to add a 1% sales tax for counties, sometimes specific to alcohol taxes, but that idea has been shot down on multiple occasions.
Currently, the only abilities counties have to raise funds is through property taxes and a variety of fees.
While Kolbe didn’t get into specifics at this time, he talked of adding an additional “public safety” fee and making that dependent on the size of the property to which that fee is being assessed.
For example, smaller houses and businesses may not see much of an assessment, but larger properties like a “mansion” or “Amazon” would be assessed more.
Kolbe’s point was since larger entities need more services, so they should be assessed more for them.
Kolbe served on the Minnehaha County Commission almost two decades, from 1989 to 2008.
No action was taken on his suggestion, as it was just public comment, and commissioners seldom respond to that.
There were a few other minor items considered at the meeting, but they were all very brief.
The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
