The Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations of the South Dakota legislature is meeting in Pierre to get an update on the use and availability of federal funds.

Committee Co-chair, Senator John Wiik of Big Stone City, says they have had some time to review the funding and spending….

Wiik says the guidance attached to the money gave Governors a lot of authority to spend the dollars….

The state got just over one point two billion dollars from the federal government.

Wiik says he agrees with the Governors proposal to help small businesses…

Governor Kristi Noem announced a plan to use up to four hundred million dollars to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic.