Governor Dennis Daugaard indicates there might not be enough state funds to execute a land swap with the federal government over Little Spearfish Canyon.
Daugaard says the state has to first fill a budget shortfall, unless revenues pick up.
Governor Daugaaard says the state has to focus on funding a revenue shortfall before considering financing the land swap.
“Some of that one time money that I had proposed for the Spearfish Park land swap need, to buy $2.5 million of land from School and Public Lands, that might not be there. So we’ll see,” Daugaard says.
Daugaard says the December sales tax revenues are being calculated, currently. December is typically considered the biggest month for sales tax collection.
He says the state will adopt revenue estimates on February 15. He says that’s when the state will know if they could even finance the land transfer.
Daugaard says he was surprised at the backlash against the land transfer and potential state park proposal during a public input session late last month.
“It’s human nature that if you have a natural resource that’s in your neighborhood and that you’ve enjoyed, the prospect of having other folks come in and enjoy it maybe is not appealing to you," Daugaard says. "So, people might worry they’ll be crowded out.”
Daugaard says he wanted to offer the idea of a state park to see if it resonated with the public.