This week the South Dakota Senate approved HB 1182 which places the sales tax at four and a half percent with the money going towards teacher salaries and property tax relief. South Dakota Farm Bureau Lobbyist Mike Held says his group is pleased with passage of the legislation sought by the Governor. He says providing relief for property taxes is important to the state’s farmers and ranchers.

He says the most important part of the property tax relief is addressing the problem of rising capital outlay taxation in schools.

Held says the capital outlay taxation problem is a difficult one to solve and passage of HB 1182 helps get a handle on that problem.

Held says HB 1182 will be particularly helpful to smaller rural schools which are having a difficult time getting teachers hired due to the pay issue.