Gov. Larry Rhoden faces tight revenues, big ambitions with inaugural spending plan

Governor will ask South Dakota Legislature to support airport funding, state-radio backup, county property tax relief replacement in Tuesday's Budget Address

Gov. Larry Rhoden addresses reporters in January 2025 at the South Dakota State Capitol as wife Sandy and former Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, a longtime friend and advisor to Rhoden, stand to his left. (The Dakota Scout archives)

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden will deliver his first-ever budget address today at the state Capitol — and his spending plan is expected to be lean.

That’s due to ongoing calls from both state lawmakers and voters in South Dakota population centers for property tax relief, combined with a festering sales tax slump. And that means what’s likely to be another year of restrained funding for public education, wages for employees within the state’s 20 civil service departments under Rhoden’s oversight, and community support providers and Medicaid health care providers receiving state funding.

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