VIEWPOINT | South Dakota state budget surplus reflects careful planning
Guest column by Chris Kassin
Each year when South Dakota closes its books, one question inevitably follows:
“If the state ended the year with a $69 million surplus, why didn’t we spend that money?”
It is a fair question and one I hear often from constituents. The answer begins with understanding how South Dakota builds its budget.
Unlike the federal government, South Dakota cannot simply borrow money to cover a deficit. Our Constitution requires a balanced budget. Every year, the Legislature must estimate how much revenue the state will collect and build a budget that does not spend more than that amount.
