Committee backs $8 million special appropriation LOI for Ellsworth-area road improvements

The Joint Committee on Appropriations advanced a letter of intent tied to Senate Bill 130 that implements an $8 million general-fund special appropriation to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority for public roadway and related infrastructure improvements associated with construction activity at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Representative Colbeck said the appropriation is intended to cover public roadway and related infrastructure needed for construction activity and that the funding is contingent on statements from Rapid City, Box Elder, Pennington County and Meade County agreeing to assume future maintenance and any costs in excess of the appropriation. "The $8,000,000 that we appropriated would be the final cost to this committee and the final cost to the state of South Dakota on any overrides that may occur," Colbeck said.

Rob Tim, government affairs director for the city of Box Elder, described a coalition of four governmental entities that worked together to plan 18 roadway segments and noted local enthusiasm about increased activity related to the B-21 bomber program. Tim told the committee there are no bids yet; cost estimates were developed using a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) assessment. In response to a question about potential short-term changes to asphalt prices, Tim said current prices have not changed materially and that future movement is uncertain.

Senator Vilhauer moved a do-pass recommendation; the committee approved the LOI. The LOI advances the appropriation with conditions that local jurisdictions accept long-term maintenance obligations and potential additional costs beyond the $8 million.

The committee’s action advances the funding language and the conditional framework but does not itself obligate the state to pay overruns beyond the stated appropriation; local jurisdictions must signal agreement to the maintenance and cost-sharing conditions.