School funding swap backed by tax-wary Republicans at South Dakota Capitol
Proposal would eliminate levies on owner-occupied homes, replace revenue with a temporary increase in the state sales tax
CORRECTION: This article has been updated after the mechanics of the proposal were not accurately described in an earlier version. The Dakota Scout strives for fairness and accuracy and deeply regrets the error. editor@thedakotascout.com.
The fight over property tax reform in South Dakota hit a clear fault line this week at the state Capitol.
Should school property taxes be cut by raising sales tax, and can legislators be trusted to recommit a new funding source to education?
That was the underlying dispute as the House Taxation Committee Tuesday morning voted 10-2 to advance House Bill 1308, a proposal that would eliminate school-related property taxes on owner-occupied single-family homes and instead replace the lost revenue with a two-step increase in state sales tax collections.
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