Lawmakers adopt $7.5 billion budget with 1.4% increase for schools, state workers, health providers

Lawmakers adopt $7.5 billion budget with 1.4% increase for schools, state workers, health providers

PIERRE — South Dakota lawmakers approved a balanced $7.5 billion state budget on Thursday at the Capitol, up about $172.2 million, or an increase of 2.4%, from the budget they adopted last year. Sen. Mark Lapka, R-Leola, is a member of the Legislature’s main budget panel, the Joint Appropriations Committee. He reminded lawmakers that they started out with a “bleak” budget in December, after Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden projected lower-than-antic…

South Dakota lawmakers leave Capitol after passing $7.5 billion budget

PIERRE – South Dakota lawmakers Thursday passed a $7.5 billion budget for 2027, an amount that included unexpected increases for education, Medicaid providers and state employees.“Well, we did it. We landed the budget plane,” said Rep. Mike Derby, the Rapid City Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee.The final budget votes in the House and Senate capped this year’s legislative session, with just one day remaining March 30 reserved fo…