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This article is a summary of Meeting With the Mayor, a weekly podcast and radio show that airs every Friday on KKLS The Cowboy and is available wherever podcasts are found. The program features Murdoc in conversation with Mayor Jason Salamun, covering issues from City Hall, community topics and listener questions.
The first Meeting With the Mayor of 2026 focused heavily on the upcoming Jan. 20 special election in Rapid City, with both hosts encouraging residents to seek out accurate information and, most importantly, vote.
“I really want the facts to be well represented on all sides,” Salamun said, noting that exaggerated claims and misleading messages have added unnecessary tension to the debate.
Salamun addressed criticism that the TIF represents a direct transfer of public money to a private developer, calling that characterization deceptive. He emphasized that TIF dollars are tied to future tax revenue generated by the project and are limited to allowable public expenses under South Dakota law. He also reiterated that while the TIF supports infrastructure connected to the planned sports complex, it does not fully fund the facility.
Both hosts stressed that disagreement over the issue should not divide friends or families.
Salamun also shared observations from a recent trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, describing how entertainment districts there have driven surrounding development. He said similar projects could help spur growth north of Interstate 90, an area the city has long identified as strategically important.
Later in the show, Salamun discussed meetings with mayors from across South Dakota ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Key topics included the future of TIFs, property tax relief and potential offsets such as sales tax adjustments. Salamun said Rapid City’s visitor-driven sales tax base plays a significant role in funding city services and benefits the state as a whole.
The episode also touched on meetings with local education leaders, including South Dakota Mines, Western Dakota Tech and Rapid City Area Schools, with Salamun highlighting post-secondary education as one of the community’s strengths.
The show concluded with another call for civic participation, with Murdoc urging voters to turn out. “It ain’t about TIFs,” he said. “It’s about turnout.”
