Noem tells lawmakers South Dakota can afford cut on food tax

Governor calls for $20 million for paid family leave opportunities, $52 million to build a new women’s prison in Rapid City

PIERRE, S.D. — Taxpayers in South Dakota would see a $100 million tax cut under the budget proposal Gov. Kristi Noem unveiled Tuesday.

The cut would come in the form of the state sales tax on groceries, a key campaign issue that Noem drove to re-election in November. Given the prominence of the issue during the final weeks of the campaign, it was no surprise the Republican governor made it a central component of her budget speech.

“The people of South Dakota overwhelmingly want this tax cut, and they know that we can afford it,” she said.

NEWS: Read South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's budget address here