Welcome to South Dakota Open Book

South Dakota’s state and local governments have a special responsibility to the state’s residents. Unlike private groups and individuals, who have privacy rights, governments have an obligation to disclose their actions and expenditures, since the authority to tax and compel obedience must be premised on the government’s remaining a servant of the people, and therefore accountable to them.

Scroll through our entries below to see the information we’ve compiled, or click on one of the categories on the right to see all our information about that particular topic.

TAS Report Day 35

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXXV

 

 

The Appropriations Committees met briefly on the first day of the final week of the 2009 legislative session.  The House Appropriations Committees took up two of the most important bills of the session.

 

SB50 is the bill to revise the FY09 budget.  Recently, SB50 has come to the forefront as federal stimulus dollars have begun to flow into last year’s budget.  They could not have arrived at a better time as revenue shortfalls are becoming more and more apparent.  During today’s session, the committee, at the recommendation of Commissioner of the BFM Jason Dilges, plugged in stimulus dollars for the Departments of Corrections, Education, Human Services, and Social Services.  In addition, they were able to cut General Funding in nearly every area.  The stimulus package amendments to SB50 sent around $69.7 million back to the General Fund. 

DO PASS AMENDED 9-0

 

SB117 is another highly publicized bill that finally saw a conclusion this morning.  The bill dealt with close to $2 million from the General Fund for technical schools.  The controversy came when the tech schools, according to Senate Appropriators, failed to provide adequate budgets.  Ultimately smoked out and passed through the Senate, SB117 has been a contentious bill.  The House Appropriators, after hearing about the bill a number of times in the past, decided to hoghouse the bill, effectively killing it.  The amendment ensured that all moneys spent from the American Reinvestment and Recover Act (stimulus package) would be reported to a special committee.  After a title change, the bill passed.

DO PASS AMENDED 9-0

 

The Joint Appropriators then furthered their work on revenue projections.  Joint Committee Adopted revenue projections will be dealt with on Day XXXVI.

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

TAS Report Day 34

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXXIV

 

The Joint Appropriations Committee reassembled for the thirty-fourth legislative day in order to hear testimony on the state’s revenue projections.

Look for a Special TAS Report on the Revenue Projections.

After the revenue projection presentation, each Appropriations Committee met independently to consider bills.

Senate Appropriations

HB1038 is the first bill presented.  HB1038 is an act brought by the Department of Revenue and Regulation to increase the fees associated with Coin Landry Machines, Alcoholic Beverage Brand Registration, and Malt Beverage and Wine Dealers.  The Coin Laundry Machine registration will increase by 100% across the board.  Between the three categories, the increased fees will raise $295,000 for the General Funds.  Rep. Nygaard, today representing his business Valiant Vineyards Winery, brought an amendment to make a separate category for South Dakotan made wines.  The amendment provided a small reduction in fees for subsequent brands of wine.  Amendment passed.

DO PASS AMENDED 5-2 (Ahlers and Bartling Opposed)

 

HB1142 is an act to appropriate funds for an adult farm and ranch management education program.  The bill would appropriate $110,000 from General Funds to the Department of Education.  The appropriation was amended in House Appropriations to reduce the funding to $1 from General Funds.  The Senate Appropriations elected not to create the new program.

DEFERRED TO 41^ST DAY

 

 

HB1183 is a Board of Regents bill, requesting $4,808,755 of Other State Fund spending authority for the purchase of land and construction costs associated with building a new Higher Education Center-West River.  An amendment in House Appropriations, recommended by Board of Regents Chairman R. Tad Perry, regarding the increase of spending if the funds came from federal grants and donations, passed unanimously.  A second amendment limited the fundable functions of the Education Center, it also passed.  Dr. Perry came to Senate Appropriations armed again with amendments.  The amendments passed, authorizing the construction of a “research park” and amending funding to $4 million from donation, $1 million from Higher Education Facility Fund. 

DO PASS AMENDED (7-0)

 

HB 1237 would spend $650,000 (amended on the House floor) from the General Fund to pay property and sales taxes for elderly folks and people living with a disability.  The administrative costs are not to exceed $20,000. 

DO PASS (7-0)

 

HB1271 is an act to appropriate funds to build a new prison in Rapid City.  The estimated cost will be $6,000,000 in bond authority.  The bill would give the South Dakota Building Authority permission to finance up to $6,000,000 for construction of the new prison.  The prison would be built upon a controversial piece of land in that it is near a school, daycare, liquor store, gun store, and bank.  Yesterday (Day XXXIII), the Department of Corrections flew all Senate appropriators to Rapid City to view the four potential sites for the new prison.  A presentation by Secretary Reisch showed that the new facility would save the state $7.5 million from leases and expansions that will not be needed.

DO PASS AMENDED 7-0

 

House Appropriations

 

SB50 is the bill to revise the FY2009 budget.  The revisions implemented a number of stimulus funds as recommended by Commissioner Jason Dilges.  SB50 represents the first direct implementation of stimulus dollars to the State of South Dakota.

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

 

 

TAS Day 33

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXXIII

 

 

Only the House Appropriations Committee met on this thirty-third legislative day.  On their docket were two new bills and the technical school bill, deferred from yesterday (Day XXXII).

 

SB32 would increase fees for nearly everything dealing with driver’s licenses from a 150% increase in regular driver’s license price to a 100% increase in the fee for reinstating a seized license.  In total, the fee increases are estimated to generate $4,222,050 for FY10. 

DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB50 is an act to revise the General Appropriations Act of 2009.  The practice of revising the appropriations bill from the previous year has become relatively standard.

DEFERRED TO DAY XXXIV

 

SB117 is a bill to appropriate funds to be spent independently by technical schools.  Having been smoked out of the Senate after failing in the Senate Appropriations Committee, SB117 comes to the House Appropriations Committee as printed.  The bill would appropriate $1,950,000 from General Funds. 

DEFERRED TO DAY XXXIV

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

TAS Day 32

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXXII

 

 

The House Appropriations Committee met before a nearly full committee room to discuss some of the most attention-gathering issues of this 84^th South Dakota Legislative Session.

 

SB203 was moved to the top of the agenda as a convenience to presenters.  The bill was to make an appropriation for the Birth-to-Three program.  The program would require $2,187,961 from General Funds and $2,697,028 from Federal Funds plus the addition of 3 FTEs.  The motion was made to table the bill, however the committee assured that Section IV (ensuring an administrative review) would be saved in another bill. 

TABLED (9-0)

 

SB49 is a bill for immediate appropriation to fund refunds on food sales tax.  The appropriation would total $2,003,302 from General Funds and $626,779 from Other Funds. 

TABLED (8-1, DENNERT OPPOSED)

 

SB50 was DEFERRED BY THE CHAIR.

 

SB36 is also a bill to increase fees upon Health Care Facilities including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.  The increases are projected to generate $273,381 for FY10. 

DO PASS (6-3, BURG, DENNERT, AND WISMER OPPOSED)

 

SB72 is a bill to fund the foundation of a Masters of Social Work degree program in higher education.  The bill would create a program, funding it with $1 from General Funds.  Chairman Tidemann explained that a parallel bill is in the Senate and “one of them must meet their demise.”

TABLED (8-1 BURG OPPOSED)

 

SB181 is a bill to appropriate funds for the State Fair.  Once again, to keep the program alive the bill would appropriate $1 from the General Fund.

TABLED (9-0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SB117 is a bill to appropriate funds to be spent independently by technical schools.  Having been smoked out of the Senate after failing in the Senate Appropriations Committee, SB117 comes to the House Appropriations Committee as printed.  The bill would appropriate $1,950,000 from General Funds. 

DEFERRED ACTION UNTIL THE 33^RD DAY

 

SB164 is a set of minor revisions to the 2009 budget.  Moved DO PASS after no opposition.

DO PASS (9-0)

 

Senate Appropriations

 

HB1070 is a bill to increase certain fees for seed permits and nursery fees.  In total, the fee increases would raise an additional $97,997 for the General Fund.  The bill was amended to increase a fee by an additional $100.

DO PASS AMENDED (5-1-1, AHLERS OPPOSED, BARTLING EXCUSED)

 

HB1037 is a bill to increase certain fees for motor vehicle license mailing.  The fee for mailing a decal will increase by 100% and the fee for mailing a license plate will increase by 66%.  In addition, a new $5 fee will be established for reassigning license plates.  The projected revenue after the increases will be $137,000.

DO PASS (6-0)

 

HB1038 DEFERRED BY CHAIR

 

HB1071 is a bill dealing with increases on milk plants and dairy farms.  The level of most of the increases is staggering, with 17 of 18 being 100% increases or greater.  Total funds gained by the fee increases are projected to be $358,425.

DO PASS (7-0)

 

HB1074 is Board of Regents bill, this requesting $6,000,000 in Other State Funding spending authority for building additions on the campuses of NSU, SDSU, DSU, SDSM&T, USD, and University Center in Sioux Falls.  The total bill for the construction will be much higher than the $6 million proposed in HB1074.  The bill was amended to ensure that the BOR did not exceed projections for cost or size of expansion.

DO PASS (6-0)

 

HB1091 is an identical bill to SB72 dealing with the institution of a masters degree in social work at the University of South Dakota.  If you recall (and if you don’t , scroll up) the bill would provide $1 from the General Fund to the Board of Regents to establish the program.

DO PASS (6-0)

 

HB1140 is a bill to use $2,500,000 from the railroad trust fund for the purpose of constructing a railroad siding near Napa Junction in Yankton County.  The Department of Transportation would be the recipient of the $2.5 million.  Amended to specify where the work was to be done.

DO PASS (7-0)

 

HB1143 DEFERRED BY CHAIR

 

HB1183 DEFERRED BY CHAIR

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

 

 

 

 

TAS Day 31

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXXI

 

For this thirty-first legislative day, neither the House nor Senate Appropriations took up bills.  Instead, committee members prepared for tomorrow’s bill consideration.  They met in subcommittees, hearing from Birth-to-Three advocates and State Fair advocates.  Tomorrow’s appropriations committee meeting will certainly be a headline-garnering affair. 

 

Among the bills to be considered are the following appropriations:

 

·        Sales Tax on Food Refunds

o       $2,003,302 from General Funds and $626,779 from Other Funds

·        Postsecondary Technical School Enhancements

o       $1,950,000 from General Funds

·        Support of the State Fair

o       $1 from General Funds

·        Birth-to-Three Funding

o       $2,187,961 from General Funds and $2,697,028 from Federal Funds

·        Railroad Construction in Yankton County

o       $2,500,000 from the Railroad Trust Fund

·        Construction of a new Higher Learning Center in Rapid City

o       $2,233,755 in Other Fund Expenditure Authority for Land

o       $2,575,000 in Other Fund Expenditure Authority for Construction

·        Property and Sales Tax Refunds for the Elderly

o       $650,000 from General Funds

·        Construction of a New Prison in Rapid City

o       South Dakota Building Authority can finance up to $6,000,000      from Revenue Bonds

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

 

 

TAS Report Day 30

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXX

 

Good Morning Taxpayer,

 

Senate Appropriations

 

HB1270 is a bill to redirect moneys in the veterans’ affairs special revenue fund.  The bill states that any funds in the Veterans’ Affairs Special Revenue Fund shall revert to the state general fund, amended to ensure that the funds are “for the benefit of South Dakota veterans.”  DO PASS (5-1, Bartling Opposed, Ahlers Excused)

 

HB1025 is an act which would increase salaries for county veterans’ services officers.  The county officers will all receive a 25% salary increase. 

DO PASS (6-1, Bartling Opposed)

 

HB1031, another veteran measure, deals with increasing the amount spent on headstones for veterans.  Under the bill, headstone expenditure authority would be expanded by 150%.  The bill’s presenter reported that the funding would be drawn from a special fund that would likely run out in three years. 

DO PASS (7-0)

 

HB1033 is asking for a one-time appropriation of $750,000 from Other State Funds to build a new wing on the George S. Mickelson Center for the Neurosciences at the Human Service Center.  The new wing will be four thousand square feet.  Amendments were made to ensure that $750,000 not be exceeded and change to 4,000 gross feet.

DO PASS (5-0, Ahlers and Haverly Excused)

 

HB1048 deals with increased fees and allocation of fee revenue from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  Nearly every fee will increase by more than 100%.  Some will increase by as much as 4900% and 1900%.  The new revenue gained by the state will be $413,465.  Amendments were made to dramatically increase license fees.

DO PASS (5-2, Ahlers and Bartling Opposed) 

 

HB1069 is an Act to increase certain fees charged by the Office of the Secretary of State.

Amendment was a change in the wording, not substantive.  In total, the Secretary of State is recommended to raise 89 different fees.  This is projected to net the State an additional $1,070,277.

DO PASS (4-3 Bartling, Ahlers, and Hundstead Opposed)

 

HB 1081 is an Act to make an appropriation to defray operation costs of the 24/7 sobriety program.  Funding appropriated from the law enforcement officers training fund the sum of one hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($ 116,000) from the Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund for 24/7 sobriety program.

DO PASS (7-0, Ahlers attempted to change to Nay too late)

 

 

HB1173 would appropriate $50,000 from the General Fund as a grant to the Northern Crops Institute.  The $50,000 would be handled by the Department of Agriculture.  Amended in House Appropriations to reduce appropriation to $25,000 from the General Fund.

DO PASS (7-0)

 

Every bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

 

 

House Appropriations

 

SB39 would make an appropriation to the Department of Education to reimburse certain school districts for consolidation incentives and to declare an emergency.
DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB47 works to make an appropriation for costs related to suppression of wildfires in the state and to declare an emergency.

DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB48 makes an appropriation for costs related to disasters in the state and to declare an emergency.

DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB49 was next, also having been deferred from last week.  The bill would provide money for food refunds.  To the Department of Social Services would go $2,003,302 from General Funds as well as $626,779 from Other State Funds.  The motion was immediately moved and passed unanimously with extremely limited discussion. 

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

 

SB52 is an act to make a one-time appropriation from the coordinated natural resources conservation fund to the State Conservation Commission, would spend $300,000 from the Coordinated Soil and Water Fund. 

DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB66 is an act to authorize the Board of Regents to construct an addition to the Northern State University Joseph H. Barnett Center and to accept donations for such purpose, would spend $557,000 from Other Funds. 

DO PASS (6-3, Wink, Peters, Deadrick Opposed)

 

SB74 would authorize the Attorney General to spend $15,000 from the General Fund to study the composition, scope and administration of a state medical examiner, effective immediately upon passage.  Amendment passed removing the $15,000 spending authority.  Title Amendment deleting the appropriation.

DO PASS (9-0)

 

SB36 is also a bill to increase fees, this time upon health care facilities including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.  The increases are projected to generate $273,381 for FY10.

DEFERRED TO 36^th DAY

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

TAS Day 29

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXIX

 

This morning, the Joint Appropriations committee welcomed two entities in for specialized budget reports.  The first to present was the 2010 Research Centers, part of the Department of Tourism and State Development as well as the Board of Regents.  The Research Centers were followed by the Department of Labor reporting an update on Unemployment Insurance and the Stimulus Package.

 

The joint presentation included faculty and directors from a variety of different research centers from across the state.  The presentation, which began promptly at 8 AM, went for over three hours.  Currently, the state of South Dakota has invested $18.6 million over the past five years in six different Research Centers.  This year’s fund, $4,042,323 from the General Fund, is appropriated into the DTSD (Division of Research Commerce).  The money is then distributed from the DTSD to the Board of Regents.  Whether this practice promotes efficiency was a major topic of conversation between committee members and presenters. 

 

The length of the presentation left little time for the Department of Labor’s update on Unemployment Insurance and the Stimulus Package.  The chairman postponed much of the testimony to another day.

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

 

 

TAS Report Day 28

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXVIII

 

 Before the Joint Appropriations came two departments facing opposite budgetary fates, the Department of Tourism and State Development (DTSD) and the Department of Education. 

 

First to present was the DTSD, led by Secretary Richard Benda and Finance Officer Marty Davis.  As previously reported, the DTSD is anticipating a 6.6% (over $5 million) increase for FY10, entirely from Other State Funds.  Although they are adding a great deal of funding, the Department is cutting 19 FTEs. 

 

Next to present was the Department of Education, led by Tamara Darnall, from the Office of Finance and Management and new Secretary Thomas Oster.  The total funds in FY10 recommended for the Department of Education is $591,840,969.  70% ($416,439,799) of the $591.8 million comes from General Funding.  Federal Funds, which constitute 29% of the DOE Budget, are seeing a 3% increase over FY09.  General Funds will be cut by .7%.  Other State Funds will be cut by 69.5%, however Other Funds constitute only 1% of the total DOE budget.

 

The final presenter was Larry Stearns, the Staff Director for the South Dakota State Brand Board.  The Brand Board total budget is recommended for FY10 to be $1,596,247.  This represents no budgetary change from FY09.  The entire Brand Board budget is from Other State Funds; no General, no Federal.  The bulk of the budget, according to Staff Director Stearns is for brand inspector wages (73% of expenditure is for personal services). 

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

TAS Report Day 27

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXVII

 

 

After a short (normal) weekend, the legislature reconvenes on this twenty-seventh day.  The Appropriations Committee met jointly today, set to hear from the South Dakota State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Bureau of Information and Technology, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

 

First to present was the SDSU Ag Experiment Station.  The recommended FY10 budget for the SDSU Ag Experiment Station is $34,221,995, representing an increase of $3,678,117 (12.04%) over budgeted FY09.  In addition, the Ag Station is set to increase 10 FTEs over FY09.  SDSU reported that many of the additional FTEs are paid for by federal grants.  Rep. Wink brought up the question of what happens to employees when the “soft” one-time fund grants run out.  Sen. Brown asked about unfilled FTEs and it was confirmed that 155 FTEs out of a budgeted 224 are filled. 

 

The next presenters were from the Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT).  The BIT is facing a recommended FY10 decrease of $9.6 million (15.7%) from budgeted FY09 for a total budget of $51,391,552.  The actual FY08 budget was $42,108,391, meaning last year (FY09) BIT saw an increase of $18,882,346 (44.8 %).  Despite the decrease this year, BIT will increase $273,056 from General Funds for State Radio Engineering.

 

The final presenter was from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).  The recommended FY10 budget for DENR shows no total fund change from budgeted FY09.  General Funding for DENR will be decreased by $643,000 to be replaced by Other State Funds ($413,000) and Federal Funds ($230,000). 

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAS Day 26

Tax and Spend Report- Day XXVI

 

On this twenty-sixth legislative day, the Senate Appropriations Committee considered one bill whose scope and gravity required an entire day’s attention.  The bill before the committee was SB50, an act to revise the General Appropriations Act of 2009.  The practice of revising the appropriations bill from the previous year has become relatively standard. 

 

Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jason Dilges offered two amendments to the bill adjusting several expenditures.  Both amendments passed by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

Senator Bartling offered two different amendments, seeking to make cuts largely in Social Services and Human Services, both failed.  Committee members became visibly and verbally agitated across party lines as nearly every vote went 3-4.  This represents the final Senate Appropriations Bill.  The bill was moved do pass amended.

DO PASS AMENDED 6-1 (Ahlers in opposition)

 

House Appropriations

 

HB1142 is an act to appropriate funds for an adult farm and ranch management education program.  The bill would appropriate $110,000 from General Funds to the Department of Education.  Rep. Carson, the prime sponsor of the bill, offered an amendment to change the appropriation to One Dollar.  The amendment passed 8-1 (Peters in opposition). 

DO PASS AMENDED 8-1 (Peters in opposition)

 

HB1091 is an appropriation to fund the creation of a Master’s in social work program at the University of South Dakota.  The act would appropriate $475,000 from the General Fund.  An amendment was made to appropriate Two Dollars in order to get the new program on the books.  The amendment passed unanimously. 

DO PASS AMENDED 7-2 (Peters and Wink in opposition)

 

HB1174 is an act to remove $6,319,257 from the Budget Reserve Fund. The bill would lower certain tax levies and fund state aid to Education.  The third section of the bill would withdraw an additional $4,600,000 from the Budget Reserve Fund for Social Services, Human Services, Health and Corrections.  Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Dennert, the bill’s prime sponsor, explained that the bill was largely meant as a message to the Governor. 

TABLED 7-2 (Dennert and Wismer in opposition)

 

HB1166 is an act to provide DNA testing for inmates for determining potentially wrongful conviction. 

REFERRED TO HOUSE JUDICIARY 9-0

 

Specific facts and figures cited in the Good Morning Taxpayer – TAS Report

have all been obtained through the official Legislative website,

http://legis.state.sd.us and by attendance at the daily committee meetings.

 

GPPPI has a transparency information website www.greatplainsppi.org/openbook.cfm,

which includes links to state and local government sites, along with additional

salary and budget information.  The open book site serves as a go to “one stop

center.”  Have you checked out the Spend-O-Meter on our web site?  Want to

know how much our state spends per second?  Click here:  www.greatplainsppi.org.

 

If you have friends or relatives that you think would be interested in receiving

the updates and information from the Great Plains Public Policy Institute,

please forward this to them and send their e-mail address to us at:  ron.williamson@greatplainsppi.org.

 

Ron Williamson, President