As the Sioux City Council members work on the city department operating budgets that could reduce the library budget and other areas next year, there is a whole other budget component covering the largest standalone projects costing millions.
According to city budget documents, the most expensive projects over the next five years include the wastewater treatment plant, at $170 million, and $111 million at Sioux Gateway Airport.
The wastewater treatment plant will cost much more than that in following years before completion, at about $470 million.
Most of the airport modernization will come in 2027 and 2028.
The 5-year Capital Improvement Plan through 2031 being considered will be approved by April, for spending that can start this July.
Other CIP pieces include $1 million in 2027 and 2028 in repairs to the century-old former Sioux City Auditorium that has been repurposed into a recreation center.
The Long Lines Family Recreation Center improvements in the mix include $650,000 for ceiling repairs. Also in the recreation realm, the Tyson Events Center could get about $600,000 in remodeling and repairs in each of the 2027 and 2028 years.
The city pool with the most estimated work over the five years, involves Riverside Pool, with roughly $450,000 for filtration equipment, a slide restoration and more.
Other projects of note projected in the CIP proposal include $650,000 in repairs to the Anderson Dance Pavilion at the riverfront, and two firetrucks costing $920,000 each in the middle years.
The CIP summary says these improvements are aimed to improve the quality of life and infrastructure in Sioux City.
In the other main budget category, the proposed 2026-27 budget contains operating expenses of $259 million, which is up by one-half of 1 percent from this year.
The proposed city property tax levy is $15.59 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, which is a large reduction from $17.11 per $1,000.
