Governor Dennis Daugaard has proposed a half cent sales tax increase to fund his proposed teacher pay increase. As the third week of the legislative session comes to an end, many lawmakers are wondering where this bill is and why it has not been submitted.
One South Dakota lawmaker says South Dakotan’s do not support a tax increase and has submitted a bill that would redirect South Dakota lottery revenues to pay for the teacher pay increases.
District 30 Representative Lance Russell of Hot Springs is introducing a bill that would dedicate revenue from video lottery for the purpose of increasing teachers’ salaries….

Russell says this bill also holds all the school districts harmless…

Russell says that speaking with lawmakers, there is a lot of concern with the Governor’s proposal…

Many lawmakers have also been frustrated with the fact that Daugaard stated publically that South Dakota has about 400 teachers too many. Those statements are according to a formula devised by the governor’s office that aims to tie school funding to student-teacher ratios.