Hot Springs residents fighting back against rising property taxes

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Property taxes are on the rise across KOTA Territory, and residents in Hot Springs are feeling the strain, with some claiming their taxes jumped as much as 65% between 2023 and 2024.

“When we moved here, we thought it would be affordable, and as things progressed, we’re wondering how affordable it will be because if they raised taxes 65% in one year, and it depends on everybody that lives here and what their taxes increased, but what is stopping them from doing this again next year,” said Shaw, a homeowner.

John Stewart, another homeowner in Hot Springs added the increasing property assessments aren’t bringing any benefits to homeowners.

“I’m not making any money on my home, so you’re telling me my house went from 371 thousand to 380 thousand doesn’t put any money in my pocket, all it does is take money away from me,” Stewart said.

The Shaw’s say their concerns deepened earlier this year when they witnessed an elderly couple leaving a medical center in tears, saying the couple claimed they had to choose between paying for food or medicine.

Determined to take action, the Shaw’s say they went to Pierre to attend a meeting about property taxes.

There, they handed out letters but said they were refused a chance to speak at the meeting.

“Let’s say your COLA goes up and they take another hundred, that’s better than 2, 3, 4 thousand, taking away the golden years of your retirement and that for your trips I mean 3, 4 thousand that’s a big trip to go see grandkids that’s enough even to take a cruise and they take it from his house, his house, my house, they take it from everybody,” Shaw said.

Shaw criticized the government’s approach, stating that the focus was on “filling their bucket” at the expense of the people and urging Kristi Noem and South Dakota Legislators to create a special session to address this problem instead of doing studies.

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