The first step in South Dakota public schools receiving a 6 percent increase in state aid was taken in the legislature.

 

With a “Do Pass” recommendation, the Senate Education committee referred Senate Bill 59, which provides the 6 percent increase in state aid and special education and revises the property tax levies for school districts, to Joint Appropriations committee for review on a 6-0 vote.

 

“This is a largely ministerial bill,” Sen. Blake Curd, the Committee Chair, said, adding the bill is “something we have to do” as it is the mechanism to provide schools the proposed 6 percent increase in state aid and needs to continue through the appropriations process.

 

ASBSD supports the bill, which will provide more than $40 million in new money for public education and is the largest bump in state aid since 2016-17 when the half-cent sales tax increase was passed by the legislature to fund a raise in teacher salaries.

 

SB 59 awaits a hearing in front of the Joint Appropriations committee.

 

For updates during session, check the ASBSD blog and Bill Tracker Page.