Governor Dennis Daugaard is scheduled to give his annual budget address next week. What it will entail for school funding remains to be seen, but ASBSD’s Board of Directors heard firsthand what is likely to be provided.

 

Governor’s office Director of Policy and Communications Tony Venhuizen joined ASBSD’s Board of Directors at their November meeting to discuss K-12 education funding.

 

(From right) ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany, Venhuizen and Policy Analyst Patrick Weber share a laugh during their visit to the recent ASBSD Board of Directors meeting.

 

 

Venhuizen hinted slow revenue growth would lead Gov. Daugaard to propose a 1.6 percent increase for K-12, Medicaid and state government. The state is required by law to provide an increase in funding of three percent or the change in CPI-W, whichever is less.

 

“Going into this year we saw revenue growth that was pretty soft,” Venhuizen said. “We have money now to do the minimum.”

 

Venhuizen said revenue growth was pegged at approximately $40 million with around $60 million needed to provide the minimum funding increase. He said the additional $20 million needed to provide the minimum increase was gained from more than $120 million in unclaimed property the state received this year.

 

“We’d like to (provide) 20 percent (increase) for schools, but we don’t have the money for that,” Venhuizen said. “In the last few years we’ve had the opportunity to provide one-time money, but we know that may not be what you’re looking for.”

 

Venhuizen said Gov. Daugaard was still exploring options to provide additional dollars for school districts. The Governor’s budget address begins at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Audio of the speech can be accessed at http://legis.sd.gov/ or can be viewed on your local South Dakota Public Broadcasting station.