Listening to South Dakotans Talking

How South Dakota collects and spends money should reflect its citizens’ shared values — the consensus about needed public services and how they should be financed. That belief prompted a facilitated community dialog process by the South Dakota Budget & Policy Project. Called… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Joint Appropriations Committee shares full amendment packet with public via Internet

Repeating their practice of last year, the Joint Appropriations Committee has published on its internet site the Proposed Amendments to the General Appropriations Bill for FY13 (SB197).    The Legislative Research Council posted the full list… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Tentative timeline for final week of legislative session 2012

Friday morning Joint Appropriations chair Senator Corey Brown described his anticipated timeline for appropriations actions during the final week of session:

• Monday noon (2-27-12) – Amendments to general appropriations bill due to Legislative Research Council.  Only legislators or agencies can submit amendments.

… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Extra revenue creates opportunity to address critical need

Revenue projections adopted by the Joint Appropriations Committee on Friday 2-24-12 reflect an expected increase over those contained in Governor’s proposed budget. 

Bottom line?  The legislature expects an $12.1 million additional revenue in the current fiscal year (FY12) and an additional $9.7 million in FY13.  This offers the legislature some additional… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Can the Legislature improve information flow in the current budget process?

Two bills have been introduced that have the potential to impact information flow in the South Dakota state budget process. 

The first (HB1133) creates a formal mechanism for the legislature to research and conduct long term planning on… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

HB 1214 – a food tax sunset  compared to HB 1216 a food tax swap

On 2-7-12 the South Dakota House Taxation committee will look at two bills using different approaches to removing state sales tax from groceries. 

HB 1214 proposes a food sales tax sunset, using 1/2 cent decreases to phase out the… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Senate Bill 194 Sales and property tax relief for elderly persons and persons with a disability.

Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear SB 194 Thursday morning, 2-2-12.  South Dakota has a long-standing program that provides sales and property tax relief to the elderly and disabled poor.  Program… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Do you want to be part of a local discussion about how our state raises tax revenue and spends it? 

Have you ever wondered how the budget process actually works and how you can influence it?

YOU are invited to be part of a public forum in your area discussing the formation… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

SD Summer tax exemption study – what happened, what didn’t happen…

The 2012 legislative summer study concluded their study of sales tax exceptions using less than half of the five days proposed for the process.

Here is a look at what they did.  And what they didn’t do.

They did:… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

How did the Department of Social Services end up with $14.3 million in excess funds?

That is a nice problem to have – but a takes a little explaining since the state of South Dakota cut provider reimbursements for the fiscal year that just began July 1, 2011.

Let’s look… Read more

 Print This Entry |  Email This Entry

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•