Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - By a vote of 584 to 400 (59% to 41%) the coveted Cherry Lake addition will be absorbed into the Sioux Falls school district from the West Central district. Meaning the plan the two districts agreed to will be put into place over the next two decades.
“The property will go to the Sioux Falls district and there will be a revenue sharing agreement between the two school districts for 20 years,” said West Central school board president Steve Dick. Meaning that a percentage of tax value of Cherry Lake will stay with West Central, however the land will be considered property of the Sioux Falls District. Over that 20 year span West Central’s share of that money will shrink, and in year 21 Sioux Falls will receive all of it. Taxes from commercial development in Cherry Lake will stay with West Central.
The group Save Our Future expressed disappointment with Tuesday’s decision. Member Ben Jones said “We were shooting for bigger things,” such as the potential to grow the West Central district into Sioux Falls similar to what has been done in the Harrisburg, Tea, and Brandon Valley districts.
Both sides took the time to thank the nearly 1,000 voters that took part in Tuesday’s election.