Protect Families. Protect Jobs. Protect Rapid City.
Keep extremist agendas off the ballot and protect families, jobs, and our community.
DECLINE TO SIGN
We stand up for Rapid City families, taxpayers, and small businesses against costly petition campaigns that twist the facts and try to rewrite the rules after projects have already followed them. These signature drives don’t just risk bad policy—they drain public dollars into special elections that can cost nearly $100,000 each, while undermining confidence in fair play and discouraging investment in our community.
Every dollar wasted on unnecessary elections is a dollar taken away from public safety, schools, road improvements, and the basic services families rely on. That’s why special interests try to confuse voters with petitions—because they know their ideas can’t stand up to open debate or the test of fairness.
By saying Decline to Sign, you’re defending local jobs, protecting new family attractions, and keeping Rapid City on a path of growth. You’re standing with neighbors who want a vibrant economy, better infrastructure, and opportunities that keep young people here at home. And you’re sending a message that outside groups and political activists cannot hijack our ballot box just to push their agenda.
Together, we can stop misleading campaigns before they waste our time, our money, and our community’s future. When you Decline to Sign, you’re not just saying “no” to bad petitions—you’re saying “yes” to Rapid City’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Confused about petitions, special elections, or how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) works in Rapid City? You’re not alone.
Opponents often spread myths that sound convincing but don’t line up with the facts. These answers will help you understand why declining to sign protects taxpayers, keeps our city on track, and ensures fair play for businesses and families.
What does “Decline to Sign” actually mean?
Declining to sign is your right as a citizen. Petition drives often mislead voters and force costly special elections. Saying “no thanks” prevents expensive elections—estimated by the Rapid City Finance Officer at nearly $98,000 per election—that taxpayers are forced to fund
Are we trying to stop people from voting?
Not at all. Voting remains open for elections that make it onto the ballot. Decline to Sign simply stops misleading measures from wasting public dollars on unnecessary special elections before they get that far.
What is a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district?
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a tool that allows cities and counties to finance public improvements such as roads, water, sewer, and redevelopment projects. When a TIF district is created, the base property value is set, and taxing entities (schools, counties, municipalities) continue to receive taxes on that base. Any increase in property value above the base—the “increment”—is used to pay off the cost of public improvements in the district. Once the costs are repaid, all taxing entities benefit from the full, increased property value (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Department of Revenue, August 2018).
Is Rapid City just giving money to developers through TIFs?
No. The City is not writing checks to developers. TIFs only use the property tax increment generated within the district to pay for qualifying infrastructure costs, such as streets and utilities, which the City would eventually need to install anyway. Developers remain responsible for their own loans, and if a project underperforms, the developer—not the City—must repay them (Talking TIFs: City Addresses Common Questions, Statements, Misperceptions, City of Rapid City, August 20, 2025).
What types of TIF districts exist in South Dakota?
South Dakota law recognizes several types of TIF districts:
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Local TIFs – default classification, usually for local infrastructure.
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Industrial TIFs – for manufacturing, processing, and wholesale facilities.
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Economic Development TIFs – for commercial or industrial activities, including retail or commercial housing.
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Affordable Housing TIFs – specifically for workforce and affordable housing that meets price or rental requirements (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Department of Revenue, August 2018).
Why are TIFs important for economic development?
TIFs make projects possible that otherwise would not move forward. They help cover the high costs of infrastructure, making it feasible for developers to invest in new housing, commercial projects, or industrial sites. Without TIFs, communities may miss opportunities for growth, jobs, and expanded tax base (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Legislative Research Council, Issue Memorandum 2017-08, December 29, 2017).
What can TIF funds be used for?
TIF funds can only be used for project costs that are public in nature. This includes streets, sewer, water, sidewalks, storm drainage, cleanup of polluted areas, redevelopment of existing structures, or infrastructure for new commercial or industrial development. Direct construction of private buildings is not an eligible cost (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Department of Revenue, August 2018).
How are TIF districts created?
The process requires several steps:
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A public hearing by the planning commission.
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A recommendation to the city council or county commission.
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A formal resolution creating the TIF district, including boundaries and a project plan.
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Certification of the base property value by the Department of Revenue.
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Ongoing oversight by the local governing body.
This process ensures transparency and allows for public participation at multiple stages (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Legislative Research Council, Issue Memorandum 2017-08, December 29, 2017).
Do TIFs take away our tax dollars?
They don’t. A TIF does not redirect existing property taxes. Instead, it uses a portion of new taxes generated by the project to cover approved costs. Your schools and city services keep receiving the same taxes they always have. (Source: City of Rapid City FAQ & South Dakota Department of Revenue Tax Fact)
Do TIFs divert money away from schools, counties, or cities?
No. Schools, counties, and municipalities continue to receive the same amount of property tax revenue they collected before the TIF district was created. The “increment”—the growth in property value—is what pays for the improvements. Once the TIF is paid off, all taxing entities receive their share of the full property tax value (Tax Increment Financing, South Dakota Department of Revenue, August 2018).
Why does Rapid City use TIFs?
Rapid City uses TIFs to:
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Stimulate economic development that wouldn’t otherwise occur.
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Increase private investment in underdeveloped areas.
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Support affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
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Maintain and expand infrastructure to guide growth (Talking TIFs: City Addresses Common Questions, Statements, Misperceptions, City of Rapid City, August 20, 2025).
Does the City guarantee developer loans in a TIF?
No. Developers are responsible for their own financing. If the development underperforms, the developer—not the City—must repay their loans. The City only reimburses eligible public improvement costs through the increment collected from the project itself (Talking TIFs: City Addresses Common Questions, Statements, Misperceptions, City of Rapid City, August 20, 2025).
Is South Dakota unique in using TIFs?
No. Every state except Arizona and Wyoming authorizes TIFs in some form. TIFs are among the most widely used economic development tools across the country, though the rules, terms, and scope vary by state (Tax Increment Financing, Legislative Research Council, Issue Memorandum 2017-08, December 29, 2017).
Do TIFs increase property taxes on homeowners?
No. TIFs don’t raise your current taxes. They generate new revenue through growth. In fact, Libertyland alone could generate over $2 million/year in new sales tax revenue for the city. A TIF does not redirect existing property taxes. Instead, it uses a portion of new taxes generated by the project to cover approved costs. Your schools and city services keep receiving the same taxes they always have. (Source: City of Rapid City FAQ & South Dakota Department of Revenue Tax Fact)
What about schools? Do they lose funding under a TIF?
No. The state’s school funding formula is designed to hold districts harmless when a TIF is created. Schools keep receiving their base tax funding, and once the TIF ends, they benefit from the full increase in value. (Source: South Dakota Department of Revenue Tax Fact)
Does the City approve all TIFs?
No. In the past year, the City denied or stopped multiple TIF applications before they were completed. Each TIF goes through public hearings, Planning Commission, and City Council before approval. (Source: City of Rapid City FAQ)
Do TIFs provide year-round benefits to the community?
Yes. For example, Rapid City’s Libertyland and Fieldhouse projects are designed to draw visitors even during off-peak tourism seasons. This brings additional revenue to local hotels, restaurants, and retailers throughout the year, while also making the city more attractive for future residents and employers (Talking TIFs: City Addresses Common Questions, Statements, Misperceptions, City of Rapid City, August 20, 2025).
Our Families. Our Future. Your Voice Matters.
At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to our children, our families, and the community we all love. We share the same hopes: safe neighborhoods, good jobs, strong schools, and a future where our kids can thrive right here in Rapid City.
If you have questions, want to get involved, or simply want to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can protect our values and secure a brighter tomorrow.
⚠️ We’ve heard some petition circulators are telling people the petition is to support Libertyland. That’s false. The petition is meant to block Libertyland from being built. Don’t be misled. Learn the facts:
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Do we want Rapid City OPEN for business—or CLOSED to opportunity?
TIFs bring roads, sewers, and jobs without raising taxes. Blocking one project under existing law doesn’t reform policy—it tells entrepreneurs Rapid City isn’t open for business. That hurts our future more than any one project. ... See MoreSee Less
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This isn’t TIF reform. It’s targeting one business. Voters deserve honesty. This petition doesn’t change TIF policy, city ordinance, or state law. It weaponizes government against a single project and a single business owner. That’s not reform—it’s retribution. ... See MoreSee Less
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Talking TIFS & Addressing Misconceptions
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Talking TIFs: City Addresses Common Questions, Statements, Misperceptions | Rapid City South Dakota
www.rcgov.org
TALKING TIFs Here are some frequently asked questions and statements regarding TIFs (Tax Increment Financing). Some of the statements/allegations appl...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
QUESTION:
WHAT IS RAPID CITY'S TAX INCREMENT FINANCING POLICY?
ANSWER:
Tax increment financing is a method of funding public investments in an area by capturing, for a limited time, all of the increased tax revenue that results when public investment stimulates private investment. In 1978, the South Dakota Legislature approved the use of tax increment financing by municipalities to help finance certain development and redevelopment projects. Tax increment financing is one of the few economic development and community redevelopment tools currently available to municipalities in South Dakota.
Rapid City has effectively used tax increment financing since the creation of the first district in 1983. However, as with any technique, tax increment financing should be used according to
carefully-specified criteria. These criteria will assure that projects help fulfill the City's objectives for economic development and redevelopment and avoid unnecessary subsidies. This policy
outlines criteria and procedures for evaluating proposals for the use of tax increment financing.
These criteria are requirements and guidelines, but they do not guarantee approval of a request for tax increment financing.
QUESTION:
WHEN IS TAX INCREMENT FINANCING CONSIDERED AS AN OPTION?
ANSWER:
The City of Rapid City recognizes the following purposes for the use of tax increment financing:
1. To encourage the redevelopment of deteriorated, or otherwise blighted, real property in Rapid City through the investment of public funds;
2. To stimulate economic development in the community by assisting projects that promote the long-term economic vitality of the community;
3. To stimulate increased private investment in areas that would have otherwise remained undeveloped or under-developed and which will, in the long term, provide a significant source of additional tax revenues to all taxing entities;
4. To stimulate the construction of safe and affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income residents and workers in the community; and
5. To facilitate the reconstruction, maintenance, and completion of the City’s existing infrastructure network to support existing growth and to guide future growth of the community. ... See MoreSee Less
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Check out our new library of educational videos that help explain things like Tax Increment Financing and other related issues:
decline2sign.com/videos/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Fact versus Fiction podcast reviews Tax Increment Financing Districts and the most recent proposal with Libertyland USA in Rapid City, SD. ... See MoreSee Less
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