Latest news with #SuePeterson
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
While SD lawmakers consider limits on property tax growth, opting out of limits could get tougher
Rep. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, listens to Gov. Kristi Noem during her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the South Dakota Capitol on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight) As South Dakota lawmakers consider tighter limits on the growth of property tax collections, several have said local taxing entities could still choose to 'opt out' of those limits. But there's also legislation that would impose a new requirement on opt-out decisions by school boards. The House Education Committee advanced legislation Wednesday at the Capitol in Pierre that would require school boards to hold elections on opt-outs. Boards currently have the option to pass an opt-out without sending it to a public vote, although the public can refer it to a vote. Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, said she introduced Senate Bill 208 as part of the effort to solve the state's 'property tax problem.' School boards would be required to hold elections for opt-outs and to issue capital outlay certificates, which school boards use from their capital outlay funds to purchase equipment, improve facilities or for emergency expenditures. Currently, school boards are only required to put general obligation bond votes to an election. General obligation bonds are more expensive and focus on building new facilities. 'This brings school boards into line with what counties are required to do,' Peterson said. 'Spending limits for local political subdivisions were put into place for a reason, but the current system of optional referral of opt-outs is making spending limits obsolete.' The bill already passed the Senate in a 19-15 vote. It heads to the House next. Property tax tinkering continues as SD lawmakers advance ideas to rival, complement governor's plan Nearly 42% of school boards opted out of property tax limits payable in 2024, totaling $34 million collected above the limits on property taxes, according to the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. In fiscal year 2023, the latest data available on the state Department of Education's website, 163 capital outlay certificates were in play across the state, totaling $832 million issued. Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota supported the legislation, with Deputy State Director Jen Beving saying it could increase transparency, engagement and voter turnout. Americans for Prosperity is a conservative political organization that has supported proposed diversions of public funds to pay for nonpublic education options. Public school education lobbyists opposed the legislation, saying it is unnecessary and would cost taxpayers more money to fund more elections. 'This is not one of the property tax bills I think that should be a priority,' said Dianna Miller, representing the Large School Group. Several property tax bills are still on the table, such as Gov. Larry Rhoden's property tax proposal including a cap on countywide assessment increases, and an assessment rollback bill — both of which passed the Senate — and a House-endorsed bill that would lower limits on local governments' annual increases in property tax collections to 2.5% or inflation, whichever is less. The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Greg Jamison, R-Sioux Falls, referenced opt-outs during the floor debate on his legislation. 'All of these bodies, taxing districts, all have the authority and ability to opt themselves out to raise the revenues that they need,' he said. Another pending bill from Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, would require local governments to publish an extra public notice 10 days before any hearing on an opt-out proposal. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House panel approves elections for all school tax levies
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The House Education committee passed a bill that would mandate elections if a school district proposes an opt out. In a vote of 8 to 7 the bill passed and will now head to the House floor for final consideration, if passed there the bill will then head for the governors desk. Senate Bill 208 would require school districts to hold local elections on every proposed excess tax levy and every proposed issuance of capital outlay certificates. The bill states, the governing body of the school district may raise additional revenues for general fund purposes only, from property tax through the imposition of an excess tax levy. The governing body of a school district may impose the excess tax levy with an affirmative two-thirds vote of the governing body on or before July fifteenth of the year prior to the year the taxes are payable. Speaking for the bill was Republican Sen. Sue Peterson, said from 2019 to 2023, school districts across the state opted out for a total of $165 million and issued capital outlay bonds totaling $413 million. 'Currently referral to the people is mandatory for counties that opt out of property tax limits, but only optional for school boards, This bill brings school boards into line with what counties are required to do,' Peterson said. 'Spending limits for local subdivisions were local political subdivisions were put into place for a reason, but the current system of optional referral of opt outs is making spending limits obsolete.' Also speaking in favor of the bill was Lobbyist for South Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Jennifer Beving, said the bill strengthens local control and gives more control to the people that live in the districts and It gives taxpayers of the district more local control over their own money. 'This bill does not cut funding to schools, It simply requires schools to tell people who fund them why they need more of those people's money,' Beving said. 'It's time to do the hard work to make sure that taxpayers know where their money is going.' Speaking in opposition was Heath Larson, executive director, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, who said school districts already have significant statutes and regulations to follow, and this bill is not needed. 'Our school boards are publicly elected officials who are very concerned about taxes, transparency, their local school and community,' Larson said. 'This bill is an attempt to make opt outs and issuing capital outlay certificates more difficult when there are already processes in place for local constituents to petition for an election. Also speaking in opposition was Dianna Miller, a registered lobbyist for the Large School Group, who said local school boards understands their taxpayers. She added that this bill takes away local control and the bill mandates that everything must go to a vote if this bill passed. 'I think when you force an opt out or capital outlay certificates to go to a vote, that is disregarding what they wanted in the taxpayers' world,' Miller said.' You're costing them additional money by forcing them to go to an election and then we're gonna have to schedule an election, pay that cost, so you're wasting taxpayer dollars at that point if they're satisfied with what their local school board has done. Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann, said that school boards are elected by their school districts and there are school districts out there that are doing their very best. 'Their communities can fire them at any time and do if they don't like the decisions that are being made,' Heermann said. ' At the end of the day you need the, you need the people to be on board regardless. Either they will get the signatures and they will work to defeat it, which you do not want, or you will proactively go out into the community and educate and inform so that they're on your side.' Republican Rep. Heather Baxter said the bill is all about bringing that local control back to the hands of the people. 'From 2015 to 2024 there was anywhere from 62 to 68 school districts that had opt outs,' Baxter said.' I know that oftentimes in this room, many people have continued to say local control, local control so I agree with the prime, I think we should give that local control and bring forth additional transparency.' Democrat Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk said districts can do this if they want and that the state does not need this bill. Republican Rep. Logan Manhart said the bill will give that power back to the voters, and the bill will help grant greater transparency on what's going on in their school districts. Yes- Baxter (R), Garcia (R), Ismay (R), Jensen (R), Jordan (R), Manhart (R), Rice (R), Schwans (R), No- Arlint (R),DeGroot (R), Halverson (R), Heermann (R), Uhre-Balk (D),Stevens (R), Greenfield (R) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Street racing ban passes House Transportation
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A bill that would prohibit organized street racing is one step closer to becoming law. The House Transportation Committee voted 11-0 to pass Senate Bill 116. Two representatives were excused from the vote. Its next stop will be to the full House of Representatives and if passed, sent to Gov. Larry Rhoden's desk. SD DOC announces release of high-risk offender 'When vehicles are operated at extreme speeds on public roads, serious and even fatal accidents are a predictable result,' prime sponsor Republican Sen. Sue Peterson said. 'Unsanctioned illegal street races and competitions magnify these risks exponentially.' Under SB 116, if someone drives a vehicle on a public road in an organized, illegal speed competition or exhibition, they can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and have their license revoked for 18 months. The bill also aims to penalize organizers of street races. Anyone who coordinates and collects money for a speed race or similar exhibition could be charged with a Class 6 felony. Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Hager supported the bill and said it will help law enforcement officers crack down on street racing, especially in Sioux Falls. 'This bill really helps strengthen the safety of our public streets. All of us are using those, our children are using them, they must be safe,' Hager added. 'What we've seen in Sioux Falls, we've seen some racing that has resulted in death. We've seen the racing that has resulted in dangerous behavior. This is about safety.' Puppies not abandoned outdoors, say Sioux Falls PD Spokespeople for the Attorney General's office, South Dakota Police Chiefs Association and the South Dakota Municipal League were also at the hearing to support SB 116. Cash Anderson, a lawyer for the South Dakota Criminal Defense Lawyers, spoke in opposition. He claimed the more conduct that is criminalized, that opens the door for more law enforcement contact, including search and seizures. Anderson also criticized the broad and vague language of the bill. The bill includes an exemption for races on private land and sanctioned events approved by the Transportation Commission and local authorities, like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum both spoke in support of stricter street racing laws at a previous hearing for the bill and with KELOLAND News. 'You may not think it's dangerous to open up your crotch rocket at 85 down what seems to be an open highway, but a light turns green and someone crosses the intersection and you can end with a death. And so it's just — it's not legal behavior. We have speed limits for a reason,' TenHaken said in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peterson: School opt-outs should have to face voters
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Legislation that would require school districts to hold local elections on every proposed excess tax levy and every proposed issuance of capital outlay certificates has cleared the South Dakota Senate. Senators voted 19-15 on Wednesday to approve Senate Bill 208 and send it across the Capitol to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Republican Sen. Sue Peterson was the prime sponsor. Currently, state law says the districts may hold the elections. Peterson wants lawmakers to change 'may' to 'must.' She said that school districts in South Dakota from 2019 through 2023 opted out for a total of $155 million and issued capital outlay bonds totaling $413 million. 16-year-old dies from exposure to freezing temps 'The taxpayers of South Dakota should have a voice in whether or not they want their property tax bills to go up by almost $600 million over and above that allowed by law. Any property tax relief the Legislature passes is futile without this bill,' Peterson said. Public education lobbyists have blocked attempts this session to steer public funding to parents of private and home school students. In turn, lawmakers who supported those bills are trying to force publicly funded school districts to reduce spending, rather than raise new revenue. The dispute comes as the two chambers are weeding through several dozen proposals for providing property-tax relief to homeowners. The lead sponsor of SB 209 in the House is Republican Rep. John Hughes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School administrators salary cap fails in Senate
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Republican Sen. Sue Peterson wanted salary caps for public school administrators. But a majority of other senators don't. Her legislation, Senate Bill 161, sought to limit school administrators to no more than three times the average teacher salary in each school district. SB 161 squeaked out of the Senate Education Committee 4-3 on Thursday. On Friday, however, it failed in the Senate, 13-22. Peterson said the latest national figures show South Dakota ranks 49th in teacher pay and 16th in administrator pay. Rhoden takes step to possibly run for Governor 'We need to ask ourselves if we want the best teachers in front of our children. Yes, we want good administrators in our schools, but we also need to keep the excellent teachers in our classroom,' Peterson said. Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith, a former teacher whose wife continues to teach, said capping administrators' salaries wasn't the way to raise teachers' salaries. 'But by pushing somebody else down is not how you, how you, how you raise everybody else. No. We're going to make sure we have great administrators in our districts and encourage the best, and we need to work on the teacher part, too,' Smith said. Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen said Peterson's plan could lead to administrators taking pay cuts as teaching ranks turn over. 'In many of our school districts, we have aging and retiring teachers who are at the top of their salary levels, and we're replacing them with entry-level base pay salaries,' Jensen said. Republican Sen. Carl Perry said Peterson's proposal would undercut school boards. 'Is it the school board that's going to make these decisions for us, for you, for your school, for your kids? And do you want local control?' Perry asked. 'If you want local control, then let them do their job.' Peterson replied, 'This is a really good example of where local control is not working. And so if you like the numbers 49 and 16, I urge you to vote no on this bill. If you don't like those numbers, I urge you to vote yes on Senate Bill 161.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
