South Dakota

More than ever, next legislative session will require courage • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

1 day ago

October 27, 2024

More than ever, next legislative session will require courage • South Dakota Searchlight

I’ve never been much good at political predictions. I knew George Mickelson as a tall guy I played volleyball against in the adult league in Brookings. While he was a force at the net, I didn’t think that qualified him to be governor. John Thune was unknown to me when he first ran for Congress. Certainly he didn’t stand a chance of winning a primary against Bill Jankow’s lieutenant governor. No one asked me to wager, but I would never have bet on Mike Rounds to win a three-man primary for governor.

While political races have proven impossible for me to predict, my crystal ball isn’t as foggy when it comes to forecasting what’s going to happen during a legislative session. Even this far out from the start of the 2025 session in January, I can tell that it’s going to be all about courage.

For years, the Legislature has been tip-toeing around the need to do something about the property tax system in South Dakota. A legislative summer study has just wrapped up its work trying to determine ways to make sure tax assessments are being handled in the same way across the state. Like former President Donald Trump, who admitted in a debate to having “concepts of a plan” to improve health care, the summer study offered “concepts” that might make assessments more uniform.

Those concepts are rooted in more cooperation, more education and nothing at all that citizens want to hear about when the topic is property taxes. According to a South Dakota Searchlight story, in the last decade property tax payments have increased nearly 60% for homes, 47% for commercial property and 28% for agricultural property.

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Those property taxes aren’t just a burden for property owners, they’re a lifeline for local governments with 56% going to schools, 27% to counties, 13% to cities and the rest to various local taxing authorities. Consequently, any changes to the system have the potential to mess with local government budgets.

Some legislative candidates are running on a pledge to bring property tax relief. However, the issue needs more than one legislator with a plan. The problem is big enough and complex enough to require a study akin to Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Blue Ribbon Task Force that studied teacher pay. That study resulted in a 2016 half-cent increase in the state sales tax with a portion of the money dedicated to increasing teacher pay.

That brings us to the other issue that will require legislative courage — how to raise teachers’ salaries. While the sales tax increase proposed by the Blue Ribbon panel dug South Dakota’s teacher pay out of the basement, inattention by the Legislature has allowed the state to fall back to 49th in national rankings.

This month, a South Dakota Searchlight story noted that not only were the state’s teacher salaries ranked near the bottom nationally, but teacher pay in this state has fallen by 7.6% over the past six years when adjusted for inflation. Lawmakers can’t continue to dodge the issue by falling back on the excuse that South Dakota has a low cost of living.

With many new lawmakers likely to be headed to Pierre after the election, the 2025 session may not be the best time to tackle large, complex issues. However, taxpayers are crying for relief. Teachers need more pay.

The mechanisms used to resolve those problems can’t be one-and-done. If Daugaard’s Blue Ribbon Task Force taught us anything, it’s that solutions need to be nurtured. Lawmakers didn’t pay enough attention to teacher pay and now the state ranks close to the bottom again.

The best solutions for property tax relief and higher teacher pay will be ones that keep tabs on those markets so that the Legislature can make the needed adjustments over time. Solutions like that will take study, innovation and plenty of courage.

More commentary from Dana Hess

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South Dakota

Even more budget-friendly, last-minute South Dakota Halloween costumes

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2024

Press Room

Even more budget-friendly, last-minute South Dakota Halloween costumes

Trevor’s Costumes

The weather’s finally starting to cool down, right? I think we’re safe to acknowledge that it’s almost Halloween?

Oh shoot, it’s almost Halloween.

As ever a thing that’s become an annual tradition for the Argus Leader, if you’re in need of a last-minute South Dakota-themed costume that will generate whispers at the party of “What are they wearing?” and “I didn’t invite them, did you invite them?” then by all means, read on.

Ghostwriter

What you’ll need: A white sheet, a notebook, a pencil, some Wite-Out

Notes: Put on the sheet and start reporting out the facts about stuff like Gov. Kristi Noem’s meeting with Kim Jong-Un. Oh, sorry, what? That didn’t actually happen? Whoops. Good thing you brought the Wite-Out. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would have been if that made it into print?

Disappointed swimmer

What you’ll need: Swim trunks, goggles, maybe a pool noodle.

Notes: Dress up for a day at the pool — but just walk around the party looking extremely sad. Your reason? Votes on pricey renovations for pools at Frank Olson Park and Kuehn Park have been delayed twice already this year, to the chagrin of several Sioux Falls councilors.

Someone trying to enjoy a summer day in southeastern South Dakota

What you’ll need: A big coat, some bug spray. Maybe a hazmat suit if you own one of those for some reason.

Notes: Remember how much of a nightmare it was to go outside when mosquitos were rampant in July across the parts of South Dakota? Wrap yourself up and bring along some bug spray to remind everyone of that two weeks where venturing out to get the mail could lose you about a pint of blood.

Lallycooler

What you’ll need: Nothing. Or anything?

Notes: OK, sure. The official word on the odd name of Sioux Falls’ upcoming music festival is that it means “a real success.” But I’m going to bet that you can pretty much wander into any Halloween party wearing like, some tissue paper and pipe cleaners and tell people you’re dressed up as a Lallycooler and someone will believe you.

Ostrich

What you’ll need: Some feathers, or maybe just a nice turtleneck.

Notes: Okay, this one is pretty niche, and you might need to remind people that an ostrich was running around Louise Avenue for a bit earlier this year. This will probably play better if you’re friends with any of the people in that video who are way, way too comfortable approaching a 7-foot-tall bird that has knives on its feet.

Someone parking their way-too-big truck on Phillips Avenue

What you’ll need: A big piece of cardboard or something, some sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Notes: Just wander around the party, making sure that as often as possible you’re using the cardboard to prevent people from getting through hallways or entering doors. Get to work on this one, because it could land you a ticket any day now.

Literally anything about the election

What you’ll need: Your imagination.

Notes: It’s already been an absurd election year, so just decide what you think the latest scandal or big news story will be between now and Nov. 5 and just dress up as that − as long as you promise to also go vote.

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South Dakota

Brackets: South Dakota high school football state playoffs

Published

12 hours ago

October 28, 2024

Press Room

Brackets: South Dakota high school football state playoffs

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Halloween marks the first round of the state playoffs for 11-man teams, and the second round of games for 9-man schools and All-Nations teams. See below for a full schedule of games this Thursday and Friday. To learn more, click here.

CLASS 11A STATE

Quarterfinal games on Halloween at 6 p.m. MST

8 Rapid City Christian (6-3) at 1 Sioux Falls Christian (9-0)

5 Madison (6-3) at 4 West Central (6-3)

7 Dakota Valley (5-4) at 2 Dell Rapids (7-2)

6 Canton (4-5) at 3 Lennox (7-2)

CLASS 11AA STATE

Yankton and Brookings games start at 6 p.m. MST, Pierre at 5 p.m. MST, Watertown TBD on Halloween

8 Aberdeen Central (3-6) at 1 Yankton (7-2)

5 Spearfish (6-3) at 4 Pierre (5-4)

7 Huron (4-5) at 2 Watertown (7-2)

6 Tea Area (5-4) at 3 Brookings (7-2)

CLASS 11AAA STATE

Brandon Valley and Harrisburg games start at 5 p.m. MST, Jefferson at 6 p.m. MST, Central 3 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Washington (2-7) at 1 Brandon Valley (9-0)

5 O’Gorman (5-4) at 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson (6-3)

7 Rapid City Central (2-7) at 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln (8-1)

6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (3-6) at 3 Harrisburg (7-2)

CLASS 11B STATE

Sioux Valley and Elk Point-Jefferson games start at 5 p.m. MST, Winner and St. Thomas More TBD on Halloween

9 Mobridge-Pollock (7-2) at 1 Sioux Valley (9-0)

5 Clark/Willow Lake (7-2) at 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (7-2)

10 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (7-2) at 2 Winner (9-0)

11 St. Thomas More (7-2) at 2 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (7-2)

CLASS 9A STATE

Wall game starts at 6 p.m. MST, Dupree TBD, Howard 5 p.m. MST, Philip 6 p.m. MST on Halloween

9 Castlewood (6-3) at 1 Wall (9-0)

12 Dupree (6-3) at 4 Wolsey-Wessington (8-1)

7 Ipswich (7-2) at 2 Howard (9-0)

6 Philip (7-2) at 3 Warner (9-0)

CLASS 9AA STATE

Parkston, Hamlin, Hill City games start at 6 p.m. MST, Hanson at 5 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Leola/Frederick Area (7-2) at 1 Parkston (9-0)

5 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (7-2) at 4 Hill City (8-1)

7 Viborg-Hurley (7-2) at 2 Hamlin (9-0)

11 Hanson (5-4) at 3 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-1)

CLASS 9B STATE

Avon and Faulkton games start at 6 p.m. MST, Sully Buttes 5 p.m. MST, Kadoka 2 p.m. MST on Halloween

8 Canistota (6-3) at 1 Avon (8-1)

5 Sully Buttes (8-1) at 4 Corsica-Stickney (7-2)

10 Colman-Egan (5-4) at 2 Faulkton Area (7-2)

6 Kadoka Area (6-3) at 3 St. Mary’s (8-1)

ALL-NATIONS A STATE

Start times on Nov. 1 are TBD

4 Little Wound (6-3) at 1 Winnebago, NE (8-0)

6 Mahpiya Luta (3-6) at 2 Pine Ridge (7-1)

ALL-NATIONS B STATE

Start times on Nov. 1 are TBD

4 Crazy Horse (6-3) at 1 Lower Brule (8-0)

3 White River (7-2) at 2 Omaha Nation, NE (6-2)

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South Dakota

Obituary for Sharon Ruth Jenkins at Kirk Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Published

22 hours ago

October 27, 2024

Press Room

Obituary for Sharon Ruth Jenkins at Kirk Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Sharon Ruth Wilson Jenkins passed away peacefully on October 20, 2024, at her home in Summerset, South Dakota. Sharon loved her family deeply and without conditions. She had a beautiful spirit and was a wonderful friend who greeted you with open arms regardless of how long it had been since

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