Hello fellow South Dakotans. As we approach the midpoint of this year’s session our bill load has picked up. We received some very good news that the sales tax numbers for December came in much higher than expected at 11.9%. This won’t solve all of our budget challenges, but it sure does help!
South Dakota’s public university system continues its upward momentum in student enrollment. This makes the fourth consecutive year of targeted system growth and the second successive year with more than 36,000 students in the system. The number of S.D. students enrolled across the six public universities rose to 22,410, up more than 1600 students since the fall of 2021. Retaining our educated graduates in S.D. is crucial. This is why our universities collaborate with industry partners to create opportunities to connect and build relationships with students while they are on campus. Internships, externships, and experiential learning are some of the ways these relationships are established. Most S.D. resident students_73%decide to live and work in the state after completing their degree. For nonresident students, 27% chose to make S.D. their home last year, yielding more than 800 graduates who opted to stay in the state and fill essential positions.
S.D.’s parks and wild places don’t just happen, they are built and protected by people who care deeply about our shared outdoor legacy. Together through the
campaign, we are investing in the future of recreation, making memories together, and preserving our outdoor heritage. There are 30 different projects in this campaign spread all across the state. The executive director is Kristina Coby, (605295-5797). If you are so inclined , you can find more information at parkswildlife foundation. org/ donate.
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCO) supports services for children and adults impacted by crime. Changes in the U.S. Department of Justice have resulted in a 70% drop in funds for victim services since 2021. In 2023, S.D. enacted legislation in an effort to offset some of the lost VOCA funding. Despite the lost funding, the number of victims served remains steady. Two of the local agencies that have been impacted are CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the Safe Place of South Dakota. Unpredictable or reduced VOCA funding forces agencies into crisismode budgeting, making it difficult to maintain essential services.
In closing, I would like to share a quote from Teddy Roosevelt: “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”
I do better when others help me do better. Let’s help each other build a better future for our great state.