The state has until the end of December of 2026 to spend nearly $1.4 billion in the latest coronavirus relief money.
Those funds must be allocated by the end of 2024.
That gives state lawmakers two and a half years to figure out what to do with the money.
Joey Knofczynski is with the Legislative Research Council. He says six different programs have pumped money into the state since the start of the pandemic.
“Total from all of these six acts—starting from March 6, 2020—South Dakota has been allocated approximately $11 billion,” Knofczynski says. “Not all of that goes to state agencies, some will go to locals as well. That includes all funding that goes to locals. The paycheck protection program, stimulus checks and unemployment.
The American Rescue Plan is meant to cover many things, including vaccination programs.
At least 57 percent of age eligible South Dakotans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 shot. The Biden Administration has a goal of getting 70 percent of Americans at least one dose by July 4th.