Gay Family Considering a Relocation to Rapid City in 2020 (Hot Springs: ski resorts, apartment)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Your observations are generally correct. As you get south of Wind Cave National Park the winter climate is generally milder with less snow, than the rest of the Black Hills and the summer climate tends to be drier and probably warmer. That is the banana belt effect. The terrain also tends to be more rugged from Wind Cave north than it is around Hot Springs or to the south. These features are neither good nor bad, which you choose is a matter of personal preference.
If you need to put in a new well it would be wisest to check a geological map and check with a local well driller about the likely water quality and likely depth you would have to drill. Finding water near 500 ft is common where I live. I have heard of drilling to 1400 ft before giving up on finding water. I believe it was SD that posted on this thread, a link to considerable info on the aquifers below the Hills. It is well worth reading. [no pun intended]. When and if you get to that point, you can PM me for names, address's, and phone numbers of business's that can help you.
I may be missing something, but Im not sure why you would choose a small town in South Dakota? And I have nothing against SD - I have heard wonderful things.
However, what a huge adjustment change for your family. Especially your older kids who will more than likely face bullying for being so different. Culturally, it will be a dramatic change. Your kids will be exposed to "provincialism" because rural areas are, for the most part, provincial. I see this as a situation with lots of potential for bullying.
Also, you ARE likely to face barriers as a same sex couple. If you plan to age in SD, do you know what LGBT friendly resources are there? Unfortunately, discrimination in health care is alive and well.
Are there qualified therapists available in case your kids experience adjustment issues? When kids at school ostracize them for "having AIDS"? Sorry to be negative, but you should be prepared for the worst.
I've lived in NYC, Chicago, D.C. and smaller towns. I've found that smaller towns/rural areas are almost never like "Mayberry."
I've known many New Yorkers who romanticize small towns only to be deeply disappointed. Some seem to think they'll move to a quaint small town where there is an adorable antiques shoijeeveryone is white and best friends, and a woman speaks to ghosts...
I would recommend you look for a more progressive place - a place that shares your VALUES. Possibly Des Moines, Minneapolis, Omaha, Asheville, NC - where you and your children will find a more accepting and affirming culture - your tribe. Good luck.
Where to begin? First of all, I want to say I fully appreciate your perspective. And of course your taking the time to express yourself in a way that is direct and to the point. There's so much to unpack in one post so let me try to address some of the key issues you raise, as briefly as I can. And if you've read this thread you know I tend to be a tad long-winded.
I've been pondering how to respond, waiting until the kids are tucked in.
Let me say I'm glad you are a fellow New Yorker! It adds a bit of perspective and an understanding of what the transition may entail. But let me back up to San Diego and YOUR San Diego experience! We love San Diego! We still have property in Cali! Many, many happy weekends were spent in Hillcrest and neighboring Balboa Park and of course La Jolla. I've spent huge chunks of my adult life being bi-coastal and I've never been very good at it. The trips back and forth on Jet Blue, nearly every week, became drudgery. In Cali I missed New York and the Hamptons and in New York, I missed nearly all things SoCal (sans the traffic.) One of the great advantages of Rapid City is it's smack dab in the middle of everything, coming and going. It's like everywhere is suddenly half the distance!
So.... for you... why did you apparently leave San Diego? And is it true you are in Columbia, SC!!?? How is that working out?
Next, it's apparent you are well traveled and worldly. And you know the trials and tribulations one experiences when being a square peg in a round hole (or something to that effect.) You never gave any hint whatsoever whether you were/are a "Member of the Club." But to your credit you can understand the unwelcome and undeserving hostility we can have foisted upon us merely because we exist.
In 2001, we attempted to fit into a small mountain community. This is before we had kids. After living a life in New York, we were naive to think we were accepted everywhere. We had a beautiful home and the first summer we were there, our parents came up to congratulate us. As if on cue, the neighborhood teens rode up to the driveway asking if we were the new fa***ts in town. Sassy punks we dismissed, not knowing it was only the beginning. A sad way to begin, but not our first nor the last verbal assault. From there, the rumors began in town. Entire stories fabricated out of nothing! The Christians accused us of hosting under-aged "boys" and male prostitution, of course all not true. The cars were keyed in the middle of the night. The house tagged with spray paint. Most tradespeople referred to us as "the boys" or the fairies and charged us double or triple. And it was small enough of a place and remote enough they got away with it more than I care to admit. If there was any breaking point it was when the town doctor didn't want to care for my mother because we weren't "their kind of people." No matter how we kept to ourselves or tried to participate in village life, the gossip mill destroyed any chance of redeeming our reputations and hope of a pleasant, happy, good natured life where townsfolk looked out for one another, that was all gone. Fortunately, we were able to sell before the financial crash.
We went on to spend wonderful summers filled with wonderful people in Newport, coastal Maine, the south of France and Cape Cod. We aren't blind to the existence of hateful, ignorant people in the world. We merely hope that Americans have grown up in the past 20 years and see us as hard-working, decent fellow Americans who have served their country, who want to contribute to village life. We're not looking for "special" treatment, just to be treated equally. And like all families we want only to care for our children, build a solid, well adjusted family and partake in our community.
As for Rapid City. I'm sure we'll find a "Gayborhood" just like Greenwich Village. It will be lined with cafes, art galleries, cabarets and piano bars. We'll sing in the Rapid City Gay Men's Chorus and sponsor meals for the elderly and the shut-ins. And we'll probably do our part to help the elderly Gay Ranchers who can no longer handle all the chores on their own. And Friday nights, the whole family will try one of the international cuisine restaurants and take in one of the latest foreign films competing for a slot at Cannes.
SNAP OUT OF IT!!!! NONE of those things will probably happen but it's part of our American DNA to start anew and build a good life. We're just trying on SW SD like a new pair of shoes and we'll see if there's a fit. No urgency. No pressure. It's a big, beautiful world.
I can't seriously or appropriately address your insightful comments here in the limited space, but you ought to know I appreciate your reaching out.
How did you ever find my thread in the first place?? The responses have all been helpful, and while brevity is a frequent trait, they've been pleasant. Of course, I appreciate any information that's passed along my way. No one has been unkind, which naturally, we still go through life half expecting that. I am a bit surprised that there haven't been any responses from fellow Gays. We know they are there and everywhere. Whenever you have straight people breeding, they keep making more of us, so that's just how it goes.
Thank you again for your advice, San Diego. I wish you well, wherever you end up. Life is too short to settle. Maybe you'll end up in Rapid City too! There have been stranger things! Best to you!
Question on taxes and the economy:
The state has to get its revenue from somewhere. It's a unique advantage to SD that there is no personal income tax and no corporate income tax. So I am learning that the state relies more heavily than other states on higher property taxes.
Any advice or comments on property taxes here?
And as for the economy and how it impacts RC and western SD, is ranching the driving force? And did ranching take a hit like farming in general over the last several years? Do you consider the economy to be in good shape? And is it strengthening?
Sales tax funds municipal and the state budget. Property taxes fund Schools and county governments. There are also fuel taxes which is spread out. There is no personal property tax, it is all real property. All the stuff we have, like roads, schools, fire and law enforcement, the things that make us a civilized society, we have to pay for it somehow. While we do not have state income tax, we pay for it in property tax. I tend to think it is awash as far ax a tax burden.
Ranching is huge out here. There also is some farming. Agriculture is the leading industry here. Last year the flooding hurt the economy in a major way. Ranching, the prices are not great. However, the grass and hay situation the last two years was outstanding.
Rapid’s economy seems to be doing ok. I just bought a 2018 Grand Cherokee and tricked it out. It is the most money I have spent on a vehicle. Anecdote aside, there are other factors that help spread the impact of agriculture.
Question on taxes and the economy:
The state has to get its revenue from somewhere. It's a unique advantage to SD that there is no personal income tax and no corporate income tax. So I am learning that the state relies more heavily than other states on higher property taxes.
Any advice or comments on property taxes here?
And as for the economy and how it impacts RC and western SD, is ranching the driving force? And did ranching take a hit like farming in general over the last several years? Do you consider the economy to be in good shape? And is it strengthening?
Thanks.
The state's primary source of income is sales tax (4.5%). There are other fees and taxes as well like in every state. There's also the state's share of the infamous video lottery income of approx. $ 100 million a year. The property taxes go entirely to the schools (usually anywhere from 65% - 85% of your bill) and your local governments (city, county, township). The local governments use it to help pay for fire, police, maintenance, and infrastructure. The various local governments also collect sale taxes. The rate varies, but in almost every area it's about 2%.
Our property taxes are always thought to be higher than the states surrounding SD. Based on what I've seen, we're easily in line with states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Wyoming with their coal and oil income probably are less than SD for property tax.
Ranching has taken a hit the last few years like farming. I think there's going to be a big bounce back over this next year as a lot has taken place in it's favor. These aren't just band-aid fixes either.
Thanks for the feedback! Nearly all good news. One thing I'm wondering though is if anyone would be willing to offer a guesstimate.
Suppose someone is buying a spread way out of town. How much might property taxes be on each, let's say 100 acres. Is it based at all on purchase price? Or value? Or size?
And compare whatever the property tax is on a lot of unimproved land and compare that to just one acre where there's a fairly nice house in a rural village and the tax bill on it is close to $20,000 a year. What I'm getting at here, is I'm wondering on what the annual tax hit would be for raw land. Once a home is built upon the land I would expect the property tax bill to spike considerably, even if its 1-2 hours outside of a major city like RC. Thanks for any guesses you might be able to offer.
Thanks for the feedback! Nearly all good news. One thing I'm wondering though is if anyone would be willing to offer a guesstimate.
Suppose someone is buying a spread way out of town. How much might property taxes be on each, let's say 100 acres. Is it based at all on purchase price? Or value? Or size?
And compare whatever the property tax is on a lot of unimproved land and compare that to just one acre where there's a fairly nice house in a rural village and the tax bill on it is close to $20,000 a year. What I'm getting at here, is I'm wondering on what the annual tax hit would be for raw land. Once a home is built upon the land I would expect the property tax bill to spike considerably, even if its 1-2 hours outside of a major city like RC. Thanks for any guesses you might be able to offer.
You can get all the raw data you want at each county's Equalization Office. This is what many states call their Assessors office.
Their entire purpose is to assess all land & buildings within a set sales ratio as gleaned by the state from the various sales figures the counties send there. Within these guidelines each county's responsibility is to "equalize" the assessments such that like property values are as close as possible.
The assessment of each property is public knowledge and you can go to their office and look each one up. In each jurisdiction you would need the mill level breakdown to get your taxes. The Equalization office can give you that although that isn't determined by them, but by the Treasurers office.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
