Lawmakers in Pierre support the first element of Governor Dennis Daugaard’s proposal to infuse more money into schools for teacher pay. House Bill 1182 is one of three bills that compose the K-12 education funding plan. The bill authorizes a sales and use tax increase of one half of one percent.
People representing government, educators, schools, communities, businesses, and agriculture spent more than one hour testifying that they support a sales tax increase to benefit education in South Dakota.
State Secretary of Education Melody Schopp says House Bill 1182 is the most pivotal for school districts statewide in her time with the department.
"And of those 500-some bills over those last ten years, I don’t believe that there’s ever been a bill as critically as important as the one that’s in front of you today," Schopp says.
Schopp says students need quality teachers to provide quality education. She says House Bill 1182 provides an ongoing, sustainable funding source so schools can pay teachers competitively.
The proposal aims to raise the average teacher salary in South Dakota to $48,500. Huron’s superintendent Terry Nebelsick says the plan to increase the sales tax pushes teacher salaries in the right direction.
"The proposal that’s come out by the governor is extremely conservative, and the property tax relief is obviously a component in trying to get the citizens behind the bill," Nebelsick says. "Many districts will struggle to get to the goal of this plan; however, all districts will significantly narrow the gap from what exists today."
Some lawmakers on the committee want to eliminate $40 million in property tax relief from the governor’s plan and keep the money for schools. The panel voted against that move.
House Appropriations chair Representative Justin Cronin says lawmakers can’t fix every problem, but he supports the funding boost.
"In my eight years I’ve been here, the average increase to education was between $10 million and $12 million, and we’re sitting here faced looking at increasing it $65/$75/$85 million depending on who you talk to. I think that’s pretty bold," Cronin says.
Members of the committee support the sales tax increase of one half of one percent on a unanimous vote.