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Committees advance two bills to support Ellsworth expansion; one diverts contractors' excise tax after amendment
Summary
A joint appropriations panel advanced two bills aimed at helping Ellsworth Air Force Base and neighboring communities manage an influx of construction and population tied to the B‑21 mission, adopting amendments to preserve further debate and keeping proposals alive for the floor.
Lawmakers moved two related measures aimed at helping communities and the Ellsworth Air Force Base manage construction and population growth connected to the B‑21 mission to the floor, but after competing testimony from local leaders and the state Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM).
Senators Helene Duhamel and Taffy Howard, the bills' sponsors, described a multi‑billion‑dollar construction buildup at Ellsworth tied to the B‑21 bomber mission and said state support is needed to help nearby communities absorb the impacts. "This is a competitive business. Our main competitor is Texas... It allocates $50,000,000 a year to support the military," Duhamel told the joint appropriations committee, urging the state to remain competitive for future missions.
Scott Langeth, executive director of the South Dakota Ellsworth…
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