PIERRE, S.D. – After threatening to veto it several weeks ago, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s office announced today she had signed the budget bill.
In the release, the governor stated “this budget for Fiscal Year 2024 will fund important South Dakota needs including K-12 education, healthcare providers, and state employees. It also includes funding for the operation of regional behavioral health centers, 100% tuition assistance for our National Guard soldiers, and targeted increases for our state employee workforce and community service providers.”
However, the Governor was also disappointed the budget spent $80 million dollars more than her spending plan and passed what she called a ‘tax holiday’ instead of her proposed elimination of the state sales tax on groceries.
The Governor had wanted the elimination of the sales tax on groceries, but lawmakers were worried about making up the lost revenue in later years.
The Governor Monday also signed Senate Bill 24 into law. It will revise property tax levies for school districts as well as revise the state aid to general and special education formulas.
