February 19, 2023
This past week the budgeting process began to move to center stage. The Governor
proposes a budget each December, but final budgeting authority rests with the
legislature. The Joint Committee on Appropriations (JCA) that I serve on leads that
process.
This past week, the Bureau of Finance and Management, from the executive branch,
and the fiscal staff of the Legislative Research Council, from the legislative branch, each
provided a detailed revenue forecast to the committee. The committee listened,
reviewed the data they provided and asked lots questions. Then a subcommittee met
again, asked further questions and decided what to recommend. For our current fiscal
year, which ends June 30, 2023, the sub-committee recommended and the full
committee adopted a revised revenue target of roughly $2.3 Billion.
Because that revised revenue target exceeds our original budget, and because of other
savings, there is more than $300 Million available for one time spending. These dollars
are limited for use on one-time capital projects. Projects likely to be financed with one-time
money this year include
- a new prison for women in Rapid City,
- a land purchase and design to replace the prison for men in Sioux Falls,
- a major upgrade to the accounting system for state government and
- a variety of smaller projects.
We will be able to do many good things because of the surplus.
Using all of the financial data provided, the JCA also set the revenue target for the next
fiscal year (FY’24) at $2.389 Billion, anticipating conservative growth of $3.8 percent above the
previous year. With this revenue target, we have roughly $320 Million available to
increase funding for our on-going needs. The new budget will be able to provide
welcome increases in support for our schools, improve compensation for state
employees, and consider several overdue funding adjustments to ensure that people
are cared for and vital state work continues.
Strong revenues also provide the confidence that a tax cut is possible.
Three tax cut ideas are actively under consideration. For the remaining three weeks of the session, a tax cut will be decided, the budget details will be discussed and debated, and the final pieces of the puzzle will be put in place.
There are many other bills being debated. It is a busy time in Pierre. I hope you are
staying tuned-in.
To share your views with me please use my state email- John.Mills@sdlegislature.gov
In service to God and you.
Rep. John Mills
--Rep. John MillsPost Date: 2023-02-24 12:23:07 | Last Update: 2023-03-06 12:07:03 |
