RAPID CITY, SD- The controversial resolution to create the Rapid City Destination (Libertyland) Tax Increment Financing District will be sent to a public vote after a petition drive gathered more than enough valid signatures.
The City’s Finance Office announced on Tuesday afternoon that 4,326 signatures were verified as valid following a review process. Petition organizers, seeking to refer the matter to the electorate, submitted 314 petitions containing 5,145 signatures prior to last Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline. Only 2,572 valid signatures were required to successfully refer the item to a public vote.
City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie will now place the item on the agenda for next Monday’s Rapid City Council meeting. At the meeting, the Council is required to set a date for a special election. The election could take place as early as mid-November or as late as the scheduled municipal election in June of next year. The proposed Libertyland TIF District is intended to fund public infrastructure for the multi-million dollar theme park and development planned for Rapid City.