South Dakota AG finds that local governments broke laws meant to safeguard taxpayers
Contracts for sports facilities exceeding $100,000 with Mammoth Sports Construction triggered reviews in communities across the state
South Dakota school districts and other local governments have been put on notice that a common practice for awarding contracts to build sporting facilities has not complied with South Dakota law.
Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office issued an opinion this summer at the request of state Sen. Jim Mehlhaff. Mehlhaff, a Republican from Pierre, questioned whether school districts can sign construction contracts through cooperative purchasing companies without soliciting bids when those contracts were more than $100,000.
Jackley’s short answer was no.
