A bill clarifying specific school owned property being tax exempt is close to being codified.

 

House Bill 1143, which revises certain provisions regarding the tax exemption of certain school owned property, passed the Senate on a unanimous vote on Monday (2/12) and now heads to Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s desk for signature.

 

Sen. Ryan Maher said a dispute this summer between a county and a school district was the impetus for the clarification and HB 1143 would allow certain school district properties “to remain in that tax exempt status.”

 

ASBSD supported the bill.

 

ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany noted during the bill’s committee hearing that allowing school districts in sparsely populated areas to have these properties remain tax exempt is an important tool in their recruitment of teachers.

 

“This (exemption) is an important piece of their program,” Pogany testified. “Housing for them (teachers) is usually the tipping point.”

 

For updates on HB 1143 and other pieces of legislation, check the ASBSD Blog, Bill Tracker page and Twitter feed.