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House approves changes to school property tax levies in Senate Bill 55
Summary
Senate Bill 55, which revises property tax levies for school districts and adjusts state aid calculations, passed the House after sponsors said the change lowers levies by 6.4 percent because property value growth outpaced the funding increase.
Senate Bill 55, which revises property tax levies for school districts and adjusts state aid to general and special education formulas, passed the South Dakota House on March 13.
Representative Mortensen, speaking for the bill, said the legislation implements the Cutler‑Gabriel formula that balances state and local contributions to K–12 funding. Mortensen described a 1.25% increase in funding for education this year and said the bill lowers several levies because property valuation growth exceeded the funding increase; he said the measure would reduce levies "by 6.4%" and listed example levy rates for different property classes.
Other members noted that assessments and levies interact with local budgets and said property tax relief ultimately depends on spending decisions at the local level. The final recorded vote was 58 ayes and 12 nays; the bill was declared passed and the title deemed correct.
