Governor Kristi Noem is outlining her plan to spend nearly $224 million dollars in one-time revenue the state has this year.
She wants the state to use it to pay off decades old debt, to update state infrastructure and help communities as they struggle against the pandemic.
Much of the one time money is due to an increase in wind-farm development this year, as well as a strong quarter from the Wharf goldmine in Lead. The state also has an additional $104 million dollars from federal coronavirus relief funds, and other federal dollars.
The largest investment Noem wants the state to make with the $224 million dollars is for a $100 million dollar broadband internet expansion across the state. She compares internet access to postal communication in the early days of the country.
“We must create an environment where people aren’t forced to choose between the modern economy on one hand, and life in their home town on the other,” Noem says. “We must make sure that our people can harness the latest technology—to take advantage of what has become the modern equivalent of a post road.”
Noem wants to use nearly $22 million dollars to pay off technical college bonds, and another twelve million to build a bigger livestock complex at the state fairgrounds in Huron, to replace the Beef Complex that burned down earlier this year.
Noem also wants to give the big three, education, healthcare providers and state employees a 2.4 percent salary increase.
“To be clear, this is above the statutorily required 1.5 percent,” Noem says. “This investment will help ensure that local school districts will have the resources that are necessary to educate our children and our grandchildren.”
Democrats say that increase is not enough. Sioux Falls State Senator Reynold Nesiba says the state budget is a moral document and should be centered on helping people. He says the increase should be three percent.
“They’ve been facing a pandemic. If anyone has earned this, it is our teachers and our community support providers providing care to people. We think that three percent across the board is the place to start on that.”
Lawmakers will have a significant say on how the money gets spent. They gavel in on January 12th.
-Contact SDPB reporter Lee Strubinger by email.
