Should South Dakota counties get half of state's alcohol tax revenues?

State, county officials make another run at easing burdens, finding new revenues for cash-strapped county governments

The funding woes of South Dakota counties can’t be solved with a single piece of legislation.

State lawmakers and county officials admit as much. But a legislative package anticipated to come from a summer task force could ease some of the burden by reshuffling some of the expenses and revenues that get divvied up between governments each year.

Huron Rep. Roger Chase, chairman of the South Dakota Legislature’s Study Committee on County Funding and Services, told The Dakota Scout that 23 proposals remain on the table ahead of the 14-member panel’s final meeting later this month.

“We’ll hone those 23 down to maybe the top 10 or 12,” said Chase, whose committee is considering legislation ranging from increasing counties’ share of alcohol tax revenues and having the state pay for more public safety services to allowing counties to collect administrative fees on taxes collected for other governments.

NEWS: Company warns of more train traffic through Sioux Falls if Fairgrounds deal doesn't get done