VIEWPOINT | Conservative budgeting should strengthen, not restrict essential services

Guest column by Jean Hunhoff

South Dakota has long been known for strong fiscal discipline. We live within our means, we keep our promises to taxpayers, and we plan ahead rather than spend more than we should. Those principles have shaped our state for generations and guided my own approach to budgeting throughout my years of service.

The governor recently presented what he called “a limited budget” and encouraged lawmakers to see those limits as an opportunity. There is value in looking for opportunity, but responsible budgeting also requires honesty about what tight dollars mean for the families, schools, and providers who rely on state services every day.

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