Changes have been approved for the Rapid City Vision Fund after months of public debate.
This includes the creation of a citizen committee to recommend Vision Fund projects to city council, and an amendment to Rapid City’s five-year plan for the fund.
This change would ultimately centralize much of the final decision-making authority for the money with city council and the mayor.
Both were approved with one no vote from council member Bill Evans.
“I hate to keep repeating this but I will say it so people know why I’m opposed to this - I will continue to oppose this until this change in the allocation of the Vision Funds is sanctioned by the voters of the city," Evans said. "It’s not that I don’t necessarily agree with some of the plans, I just think we don’t change a 50-year-old program that has been very successful in changing the quality of life in this city.”
The Vision Fund is a community enrichment fund that has historically been used for public art projects, buildings, and other infrastructure.