As I have said in the past, Pierre plays this game every year, tons of optimism about the state budget in the Fall, but once the legislative session hits and schools come a crawling, doom and gloom;
But the sales tax, a barometer of the broader economy, was up 6.2 percent in October from a year ago.
And Dilges is already trying to soften the blow;
Budget conversations among lawmakers have been dominated by state employee raises, K-12 education and Medicaid. But restoring too much money too fast as the economy perks up would defeat the purpose of the “reset button,†Dilges said.
“We have to start thinking about doing business differently than we did before,†he added. “It’s not just a one-year cut, it’s a forever cut. We are going off a new base.â€
In other words, an increase in education funding is never going to happen.
If the governor leaves funding untouched in K-12 education and Medicaid, those programs will be worse off in fiscal year 2013 than this year.
That’s because last year, the Legislature — working with the governor’s office — found about $24 million to ease cuts to both. But that money will be gone in fiscal year 2013, leaving education funding 8.6 percent lower than fiscal year 2011 and Medicaid funding 10 percent lower.
And it looks like they will be forcing South Dakotans to vote for a tax increase (5th penny) if they want education and Medicare funded. Not only is it irresponsible and pathetic, it is underhanded. This quote by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg says it all;
“Obviously, the hope would be that we would be able to find a way to replace that (education funding) on a more long-term basis,†he said.
Funny how there was zero mention of the $800 million sitting in an investment fund in the entire article. It seems the governor’s office, legislators, the media, the healthcare industry and educators are only giving us one choice this year, an increase in regressive sales taxes. No mention of a corporate income tax, ending tax breaks for foreign industry that comes to our state or tapping into the investment fund. Why? The GOP elite in our state love when the working class and poor pay the lion’s share of taxes especially on bread and milk. Then they wonder why the lines are so long at food pantries. Actually, I don’t think they wonder, they don’t care.
Good points here. That investment fund I think you are talking about is the state CAFR isn’t it? As for funding of K-12, I would like to have an opinion but I would like a chance to look over the main categories of the expenditure figures. I bet the small stuff is inflated – supplies, janitorial, HVAC repairs, etc. And much of the big stuff is also inflated such as larger contracts and superintendent salaries.
I also wonder if home schooling (or the figures of how many) as I seem to run into couples doing that more. If only they could get a property tax break and opt out of the fake education/day care system. Have you seen the exercise equipment at Roosevelt lately? Makes YMCA look shitty, and schools should have “good” equipment but really is that necessary? Can all the students access that room??
I bet the orchestra of that school has a Steinway..
I think ‘administration’ is heavy, especially in Sioux Falls. Do I think teachers deserve benefits and investments after retirement if they paid in? Sure. But it should not be a handout and should be based on equal contribution. I think the SF school system faces the same problem the US postal service faces, too many retirees to pay not enough coming in.