Does Will know that sales tax creates the most burden for lower to middle income? Nothing about property taxes is "simple" and he should probably meet with some Equalization directors and tax structure experts before creating bills.
South Dakota has been dealing with this problem for decades and the legislatures continue to avoid serious discussion about a progressive state income tax as well as a state corporate income tax one tax. Those who make the most in SD pay the least and the public has been brainwashed into thinking that sales taxes are fairer than progressive income taxes. They’re not! They put the burden of funding the government on middle class and working poor families who buy the most groceries, clothing and consumables. Those who have the highest incomes pay a very small percentage of their income in taxes. Many of these people don’t even live in SD full time but take advantage of the lack of an income tax.
There have been studies upon studies on this issue ( and we all know much we love to study things we don’t want to talk about ) and they all show that the fairest tax is a progressive income tax. I appreciate Will Mortensen’s attempt at a solution to the immediate problem but I’m afraid it’s just the same old plan: when in financial trouble, raise the sales and let the middle class and the poor pay for it.
Interesting idea. The math would suggest that the annual food budget for a family of 5 would go up anywhere from $90 on the low side to as high as $240 on the high side. That equates out to $1.73 a week to $4.61 a week increase in the food budget. It is an interesting idea. Not sure that the average family out there budgets to within $1.73 to $4.61 per week. The property tax reduction would be close to $800 per year for the average home owner. As suggested, check the math but it appears to a worthy topic of discussion.
Another way,make out of state investors pay. There is currently Billions of dollars parked in South Dakota. Articles have been written about this. They pay no state tax. A small tax 0.25% would raise a lot of money to help fund education. Education seems to be the big portion of property tax.
Will, I want you to listen closely: NO NEW TAXES. I am a small retail business owner, & I already collect taxes for the State (without being compensated). It already hard enough running a business these days without having g our government force a price increase to every one of my products!
Make it 1% and cut Prop tax 50%. The State comes in and takes all local gas taxes to Pierre leaving counties to raise property taxes to fund road works. That needs to change. With respect to schools, we need some common sense when building new schools. We don't need 30 acre campuses for elementary education. They also need to rethink their teacher to student ratios. I am a boomer, we regularly had 25 -30 kids in a classroom. Put cameras in the classrooms if the little Johnnies are raising cane. You never know it might just raise ACT scores in the State.
Taxes are a tradeoff, like all budget considerations large or small. From which pocket does one pay? If one pays less, what services get cut? Mortensen’s proposal is among the best of alternatives. Continuing to talk about a state income tax is just blowing smoke up a dead horse’s ***. If we don’t reduce the property tax burden, the cuts at ALL levels of state and local government will be catastrophic.
Places the SD legislature could help include: 1) establish a law that by the 2027/28 school year there is no more than 1 public school district per county (forcing administrative consolidation will force savings the county commissions are too cowardly to enact); 2) put a 15-year moratorium on new county jails and law enforcement buildings; 3) freeze law enforcement hiring and purchases to the rate of the county population growth -1% (encouraging not growing our prison population with non-violent offenders); 4) place non-negotiable caps on the growth of county roads (including distances, widths,) that are commensurate with growth and not spendthrift counties; 5) increase the property tax rates on agricultural and commercial properties so they pay the same proportion as paid by residential properties in 2014.
Mr. Cowhand & all who want to keep finding a way to tax:
How about with every concept, argument or vote, picturing your hand in your neighbor’s purse taking $$ out of it or driving off after repoing their tractor to resell & pay for what you want? Then look them in the eye & tell them how your action benefits them. That’s what it is. That’s how we feel. Stop the Bullshifting.
When video lottery was being discussed, it was promoted as something that was going to bring revenue into the state. Perhaps review of the state's percentage of revenue from video lottery business should be considered to help alleviate some of the burden of property tax increases. The video lottery business continues to be very prolificate and profitable for the owners.
If I recall correctly, the lottery was sold to the citizens by claiming ALL proceeds were going to be for education, nothing else. It only took the legislature a few years to break that promise, do I detect a pattern here?
The idea has some merit (out of staters sharing the burden), but would unfairly penalize families, who consume more groceries, clothing, etc. The most fair is an income tax - calculated not on your gross income, but as a percentage of your federal liability. Reduce your property taxes by 50%, keep sales tax low, and fund our schools and roads!
Does Will know that sales tax creates the most burden for lower to middle income? Nothing about property taxes is "simple" and he should probably meet with some Equalization directors and tax structure experts before creating bills.
South Dakota has been dealing with this problem for decades and the legislatures continue to avoid serious discussion about a progressive state income tax as well as a state corporate income tax one tax. Those who make the most in SD pay the least and the public has been brainwashed into thinking that sales taxes are fairer than progressive income taxes. They’re not! They put the burden of funding the government on middle class and working poor families who buy the most groceries, clothing and consumables. Those who have the highest incomes pay a very small percentage of their income in taxes. Many of these people don’t even live in SD full time but take advantage of the lack of an income tax.
There have been studies upon studies on this issue ( and we all know much we love to study things we don’t want to talk about ) and they all show that the fairest tax is a progressive income tax. I appreciate Will Mortensen’s attempt at a solution to the immediate problem but I’m afraid it’s just the same old plan: when in financial trouble, raise the sales and let the middle class and the poor pay for it.
Again....unfair burden on the poor. Find a fair, equitable tax solution.
Interesting idea. The math would suggest that the annual food budget for a family of 5 would go up anywhere from $90 on the low side to as high as $240 on the high side. That equates out to $1.73 a week to $4.61 a week increase in the food budget. It is an interesting idea. Not sure that the average family out there budgets to within $1.73 to $4.61 per week. The property tax reduction would be close to $800 per year for the average home owner. As suggested, check the math but it appears to a worthy topic of discussion.
Another way,make out of state investors pay. There is currently Billions of dollars parked in South Dakota. Articles have been written about this. They pay no state tax. A small tax 0.25% would raise a lot of money to help fund education. Education seems to be the big portion of property tax.
Nice try, I know a grift when I see one.
Interesting idea, but I'd want a serious double check on that math. Refreshing to see some new things get thrown around.
Sales taxes are the fairest of all forms of taxation. Everyone pays them equally. Property taxes especially in Lincoln County are ridiculous.
Will, I want you to listen closely: NO NEW TAXES. I am a small retail business owner, & I already collect taxes for the State (without being compensated). It already hard enough running a business these days without having g our government force a price increase to every one of my products!
#NoBullshift
Make it 1% and cut Prop tax 50%. The State comes in and takes all local gas taxes to Pierre leaving counties to raise property taxes to fund road works. That needs to change. With respect to schools, we need some common sense when building new schools. We don't need 30 acre campuses for elementary education. They also need to rethink their teacher to student ratios. I am a boomer, we regularly had 25 -30 kids in a classroom. Put cameras in the classrooms if the little Johnnies are raising cane. You never know it might just raise ACT scores in the State.
Taxes are a tradeoff, like all budget considerations large or small. From which pocket does one pay? If one pays less, what services get cut? Mortensen’s proposal is among the best of alternatives. Continuing to talk about a state income tax is just blowing smoke up a dead horse’s ***. If we don’t reduce the property tax burden, the cuts at ALL levels of state and local government will be catastrophic.
Places the SD legislature could help include: 1) establish a law that by the 2027/28 school year there is no more than 1 public school district per county (forcing administrative consolidation will force savings the county commissions are too cowardly to enact); 2) put a 15-year moratorium on new county jails and law enforcement buildings; 3) freeze law enforcement hiring and purchases to the rate of the county population growth -1% (encouraging not growing our prison population with non-violent offenders); 4) place non-negotiable caps on the growth of county roads (including distances, widths,) that are commensurate with growth and not spendthrift counties; 5) increase the property tax rates on agricultural and commercial properties so they pay the same proportion as paid by residential properties in 2014.
Scroll down to see DOR graph: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/08/13/tax-discussion-highlights-tension-between-residential-and-agricultural-property-owners/
Any tax proposal that doesn’t address spending or consolidation is a sham. Tax, spend, repeat.
Mr. Cowhand & all who want to keep finding a way to tax:
How about with every concept, argument or vote, picturing your hand in your neighbor’s purse taking $$ out of it or driving off after repoing their tractor to resell & pay for what you want? Then look them in the eye & tell them how your action benefits them. That’s what it is. That’s how we feel. Stop the Bullshifting.
When video lottery was being discussed, it was promoted as something that was going to bring revenue into the state. Perhaps review of the state's percentage of revenue from video lottery business should be considered to help alleviate some of the burden of property tax increases. The video lottery business continues to be very prolificate and profitable for the owners.
If I recall correctly, the lottery was sold to the citizens by claiming ALL proceeds were going to be for education, nothing else. It only took the legislature a few years to break that promise, do I detect a pattern here?
The idea has some merit (out of staters sharing the burden), but would unfairly penalize families, who consume more groceries, clothing, etc. The most fair is an income tax - calculated not on your gross income, but as a percentage of your federal liability. Reduce your property taxes by 50%, keep sales tax low, and fund our schools and roads!