Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget Prison Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vermillion forum spotlights tough budget choices, prison funding and one‑time priorities
Summary
Legislators at a Vermillion Cracker Barrel forum described a tight state budget and disagreement over using one‑time money to fund a proposed new prison, while identifying education raises and one‑time infrastructure grants as competing priorities.
At a town‑hall style Cracker Barrel forum in Vermillion, lawmakers said the state faces a tight budget year and must decide whether to use one‑time revenues for a proposed new prison or to preserve funds for other priorities such as education and local infrastructure.
The balance between ongoing and one‑time spending dominated the budget discussion. Representative Chris Kasten described the recent revenue setting and the Legislative Research Council’s forecast that state revenues may bounce back, saying the adopted numbers allowed “some extra dollars in the ongoing and a few extra dollars in the 1 time.” Senator Sydney Davis said the prison proposal is a linchpin: the decision to bond or use one‑time dollars “can impact what that final budget looks like.”
Lawmakers repeatedly distinguished ongoing versus one‑time dollars. Representative Bill Shorma explained that ongoing commitments must be paid every year while one‑time funds are temporary, and urged caution about converting short‑term receipts into permanent programs. Several legislators pointed to proposed cuts to South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the state library as examples of potential ongoing reductions that constituents are watching closely.
The proposed prison remains the largest single one‑time ask mentioned. Representative Cassin said the current figure under discussion would commit about $148,100,000 in one‑time funding toward a project with a stated guaranteed maximum price near $825,000,000; supporters contend timely funding could lock in bids and avoid escalation. Senator Davis said some members favor bonding part of the cost to free up one‑time dollars for other infrastructure programs.
Lawmakers also flagged other special appropriations competing for limited one‑time money: airport infrastructure to capture federal matching dollars, continued rural bridge and culvert repair funds (the rural access infrastructure fund), VOCA grant backfills and equipment for technical colleges. Representative Cassin described a $500,000 pilot student‑teacher stipend program offering $5,000 grants to districts as a targeted, one‑time investment aimed at retaining new teachers.
Nut Graf: The forum underscored that budget outcomes will hinge on whether the Legislature uses one‑time receipts for projects such as a new prison or for a range of local priorities, and on whether lawmakers can find a bipartisan approach to preserve ongoing programs while addressing repair and economic development needs.
Ending: With crossover deadlines approaching, legislators said final decisions are still weeks away and urged constituents to follow appropriation hearings and reach out to their representatives with priorities.
