Senate approves revisions to school funding formulas; teacher salary target inch higher
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Summary
Senators passed Senate Bill 55 (55A) on March 13, 2025, updating property tax levies and state aid formulas for general and special education. The measure includes a modest 1.25% increase that raises the target teacher salary to $62,821 and passed 33–2.
Pierre, S.D. — The South Dakota Senate passed Senate Bill 55 on March 13, 2025, approving changes to property tax levies for school districts and adjustments to the state aid formulas for general and special education.
Senator Veil Hower, who presented the bill, described it as part of a package tied to the session's budget work and said the bill "is needed to support the state aid to general education and special education funding formulas." He said the bill reflects a 1.25% increase proposed in the governor's December budget and noted a small rise in the target teacher salary from $62,045 to $62,821. The bill also includes small downward adjustments to certain mill levies and maintains the state share of general education funding at roughly 58% and special education at just under 40%.
Supporters characterized the mill levy changes as modest and cautioned that the mill levy decrease affects a small component of overall property taxes. Debate was brief; the final roll call showed 33 yeas and 2 nays. The president declared Senate Bill 55 passed and the title correct.
The enrolled bill was later delivered to the governor for approval, per the journal entries recorded on March 13, 2025.
