'We saved Big Bird': South Dakota's $7.3 billion budget bucks some cuts governor's office wanted

Allocation of state funds in next year's budget increases by $53.5M despite $72.8M in programming reductions

The state of South Dakota will run on a $7.3 billion budget next year that fulfills more than $70 million of funding cut recommendations coming from the governor’s office.

Lawmakers on Thursday capped the state’s 100th Legislative Session with passage of its annual general appropriations legislation, setting parameters for state spending in the next fiscal year amid a cool revenue outlook.

“Slower revenue growth combined with significant mandatory increases needed in the Medicaid area of our budget forced us to review every area of spending,” said Rep. Mike Derby, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. “We truly had to focus on the core obligations we have as a state.”

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