RAPID CITY - Wednesday night's Democracy in Action forum provided one of the last opportunities for the public to grill the eight mayoral candidates about city issues before next week's municipal election.

A crowd of about 100 people questioned the candidates on a variety of issues during the forum at National American University.

Alan Hanks was asked whether his campaign slogan, "Putting taxpayers first," meant that he wants to cut property taxes, and if so, what parts of the budget he would cut.

Hanks said Rapid City automatically takes the maximum property tax increase allowed by state law before it even starts its budgetary process. His philosophy is that the city should create a budget and then decide whether a property tax increase is necessary.

"It shouldn't be automatic," he said.

Bonnie Redden was also asked what she would cut from the budget.

"Since I've never seen the budget, I don't know exactly what's on there," Redden said. "First thing I would do is have an audit so I knew where money was coming from and what it's being spent on, because it's a mystery to me."

Redden said she wouldn't cut such essential services as police and fire protection but said it would be difficult for anyone to say what should be cut without digging into the budget first.

Mayor Jim Shaw was asked to explain the tax increment financing process in simple terms.

Shaw said TIFs are essentially the only economic development tool available to local governments in South Dakota.

"They are not a tax break. It is not a way to avoid paying for things that have to be paid for," Shaw said. "It's a way to advance infrastructure without costing the taxpayers. They are not handed out like candy."

Shaw said TIFs are used to pay for infrastructure such as water, sewer, streets, drainage and other services. The other way to advance infrastructure is for all taxpayers to pay the cost up front and hope to get paid back through connection fees.

Hanks also responded, agreeing that tax increment financing is a wonderful economic development tool that he is not opposed to if used to pay for public improvements. He said his concern lies with the recent trend of paying more of the private development costs or improvements for which a private developer is normally responsible.

"I've always been a supporter of TIFs when they made sense," he said. "No one has ever advocated that we not use TIFs. What I'm saying is we need to put in some common-sense guidelines."

Another questioner asked what progress the city is making toward building a performing-arts center. The city has allocated $3.5 million in 2012 funds toward such a facility, and work is currently under way to develop schematic designs and cost estimates to build near The Journey Museum.

Patrick Dowling said he would work with people in the arts to see what is needed.

"That is definitely an important thing. There is limited money. … Until you see the budget, you don't know what you have to work with," he said.

Gary Hargens said he would welcome a performing-arts center near The Journey Museum.

"I think it's important. It's a quality-of-life issue," he said. "Not everybody's going to go to a play. Not everybody goes to the movie theater, but we have those. It seems like a no-brainer. Let's build it and get it done."

Jerry Knispel expressed concern about building in the flood plain.

"I think that's against the law. You can't build back there in the flood plain," he said.

One person asked about the perception that the police department treats American Indians differently, and how, as mayor, the candidates would deal with it.

Sam Kooiker said he believes there must be more community policing in which people know the officers who patrol their neighborhoods. He said the perception should be addressed and that there is always room for improvement.

Tom Johnson said there are a number of ways to police, and he advocates handling situations as calmly as possible while controlling situations but using no more force than necessary. He said the police department tracks incidents that require force and looks for patterns.

"I believe through better training and better leadership, and that it's absolutely given that we have no discrimination whatsoever; we have no profiling, then I think that does more," he said.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com