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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Early Budget Estimates Show Revenues Down

It’s the last two weeks of legislative session and budget discussions are heating up at the Capitol. Lawmakers say early revenue figures are down from initial projections meaning lawmakers may have some tough budget decisions ahead. However, Jason Dilges with the state’s Bureau of Finance and Management says even though revenues are weaker than expected state expenditures are also down. He says the lower expenditures offset reduced revenues. 

"And so because of that conservative budgeting on the expenditure side, despite a reduction in our revenues, I think you’ll still find that we’re closer to balance than we otherwise would have been," says Dilges

The House and Senate appropriations committee will hear revenue estimates on March 9 from the Bureau of Finance and Management and the Legislative Research Council. Appropriators will then adopt revenue projections from these two reports and begin work on finalizing the FY2016 budget.