Business Groups Concerned with Property Tax Scheme

Sioux Falls, SD – A broad coalition of business groups has expressed concern with statements made by gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden regarding the elimination of nearly $2 billion in local property taxes by cutting funding for schools, counties, and cities and implementing new taxes on visitors.

In response to survey questions and in conversations with business groups, Doeden has pledged “aggressive spending reductions” to local governments while seeking “additional sources of revenue.”

Doeden has claimed that families would “pay any price in the world” to come to South Dakota and that “it’s time for tourists and out-of-state visitors to pay their fair share . . . we will be obtaining new revenue from tourists that come here to enjoy our beautiful state.”

Eliminating nearly $2 billion in funding for schools, counties, towns and other local needs – which is the equivalent of roughly 80 percent of the general fund budget for the State of South Dakota – with cuts and new taxes would negatively impact infrastructure and place even greater strain on local businesses.

“South Dakota’s business community has spent decades building a reputation for fiscal discipline and sound governance,” added Ryan Budmayr, President of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “We support real tax relief, but any plan of this size needs to be grounded in real numbers so families and businesses can trust it will actually work.”

“A one percent statewide sales tax raises about $350 million,” said Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers. “To replace $2 billion in local property taxes would require a nearly 6% sales tax rate on top of our current sales taxes and if it’s applied more narrowly it would need to be much, much higher. This would crush businesses and cripple our state’s No. 2 Industry.”

“Property taxes fund schools, counties, towns, and other local needs,” said Garth Wadsworth, Senior Public Policy Director of Elevate Rapid City. “We need to educate our kids, maintain county roads, and repair necessary infrastructure; we cannot cut all of these services.”

“Infrastructure is the backbone of commerce,” said Jeff Griffin, President and CEO of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. “Cutting infrastructure while raising taxes would have a very negative effect on South Dakotans.”

“A new consumption tax on visitors would make South Dakota less competitive, increase the cost of visiting our state, and reduce visitor spending—while the logistics of determining who is a visitor could also result in unintended costs and impacts for South Dakota residents,” said Carmen Schramm, Executive Director of the Tourism Coalition of South Dakota.

“This plan is simply not workable,” said Mike Bockorny, Executive Director of the Economic Development Professionals of South Dakota. “Small businesses, local restaurants, gift shops, hotels, coffee shops, book stores, and attractions across the state would be devastated. This is not the right approach for South Dakota.”

Groups expressing concern about Doeden’s property tax scheme include:

• Associated General Contractors of South Dakota
• Coalition for Responsible Taxation
• Economic Development Professionals Association
• Elevate Rapid City
• Experience Sioux Falls
• Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
• South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• South Dakota Petroleum and Propane Marketers Association
• South Dakota Retailers
• Tourism Coalition of South Dakota
• Visit Rapid City

– 30 –

Ever wanted to get into the go-cart business?  It appears that Thunder Road, long owned by the Novstrup family, is selling out in Aberdeen:

Of course, this comes around a month after Al Novstrup was not selected in the primary election to return to District 3 House, but it’s still a surprise nonetheless.

In a 2024 article appearing in the Dakota Scout, it was noted that the outdoor entertainment venue had survived over 30 years at that point.

We’ll see if it continues. I suspect they’re finding the indoor ventures are much more profitable with a year-round cash flow, versus the seasonal aspect of the operation.

Thune Celebrates America’s 250th Birthday

“May God bless our beloved country and keep us faithful to the principles for which we stand.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: 

Click here to watch the video.

Governor Larry Rhoden is hosting a meet & greet campaign event in Brookings this next Monday at the SDSU Research Park for those so inclined, as we wind down the longest primary contest in State History.

Toby Doeden had an event here this week as well, but you had to sign up to find out the secret location. Which after seeing it, it looks like the free food and drink event was at Cubby’s.  I’m not sure why that was a state secret. If I see an invite, I typically post it. But without a location? It’s a campaign event at the local sports-bar eatery, so I’m not sure why they wouldn’t tell anyone.

Almost over! 12 days to go!

“The paid-off media is attempting to influence the outcome of this election with a very fake poll,” he said.

That stands in contrast to his reaction following the May 21 release of a KELO/Emerson poll that showed him leading with 26% support in the four-way primary race.

“KELOLAND News shows us leading in their latest poll,” Doeden posted on Facebook at the time, while sharing a bar chart of the poll results. “Our internal polling looks even better.”

Read all about that fake poll here.

The Doeden for Governor campaign has taken to Facebook to respond to the poll numbers showing the Larry Rhoden campaign out in front of him by a wide margin.

It’s all fake. Of course:

Darned mainstream media.

The KELOland/Emerson poll has been released, and appears to be good news for Governor Larry Rhoden, as the poll claims he’s going to blow the doors off of the upstart Toby Doeden campaign on a 2-1 basis:

The poll shows 62% of likely Republican voter would choose Rhoden, while 32% would choose Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden. There are 7% of Republican voters still undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 4.3%.

Rhoden gained a significant amount of voters who had selected U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson in the June 2 primary. The poll shows that 95% of those who voted for Johnson in the primary indicated that they would vote for Rhoden. Only 5% indicated Doeden.

Read the entire story here.

Whoof.  That’s going to change the texture of the race – and potentially represents a continued hard shift back from the right.

Ultimately, whether these poll numbers hold true will depend on who shows up, as I anticipate the turnout is going to be brutally low. And the hard right supporters tend to show up whether it’s 120 degrees or 120 degrees below.

Will Doeden shift his tactics, try to appear to mainline Republicans, and quit sending out dickish text blasts, as a PAC did in his support yesterday? We’ll see.

From KELOland:

Ahead of the runoff election, KELOLAND News is once again teaming up with Emerson College Polling. We’ll be releasing the results this morning at 10 a.m. Central Time on KELOLAND.com

Read that, and follow the polling release here.

Rounds Introduces DNI Nominee Jay Clayton at Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered the introduction for Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton at his nomination hearing in front of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Rounds first met Jay through his role on the Senate Banking Committee when Clayton was nominated and confirmed to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017.

“Jay is a consummate professional with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors,” said Rounds. “The Senate previously confirmed him on a bipartisan basis to serve as the SEC Chair, and I’d like to think we were proven correct in judging his character the first time around.”

“Jay’s time at the SEC and in the private sector has given him valuable experience with issues that the DNI faces on a daily basis: cyber threats from state and non-state actors, illicit finance, economic competition with China, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by both our adversaries and our own intelligence community,” continued Rounds. “He brings valuable insight into each of these areas that will serve him well.”

Click HERE to watch Rounds’ full introduction. Read Rounds’ remarks as prepared for delivery below.

+++

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Today, I have the privilege of introducing the Honorable Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence.

I first met Jay through my role on the Banking Committee when he was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017.

He’s a consummate professional with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. The Senate previously confirmed him on a bipartisan basis to serve as the SEC Chair, and I’d like to think we were proven correct in judging his character the first time around.

It’s no surprise President Trump would select him to serve in his cabinet. The DNI has to be a trusted, unbiased voice to provide ongoing intelligence to the President. I believe Jay will do great work in this role.

Jay is an accomplished lawyer with decades of experience, and he currently holds one of the most high-profile and demanding posts in the Department of Justice as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

He’s made the most of his time in New York by prosecuting some of America’s worst enemies and threats to our national security: Mohamed Al-Sadia, the Iranian-Iraqi national responsible for over a dozen terrorist attacks in Europe and two attempted attacks in America, Nicolas Maduro, and multiple other narco-terrorists.

These efforts required extensive coordination with the intelligence community and larger national security enterprise, including the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If confirmed, Jay’s experience at the helm in New York will serve him well as DNI.

Mr. Clayton chaired the SEC through a period of significant uncertainty for financial markets during the depths of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020.

His success in leadership roles at the SEC and DOJ is strong evidence of his ability to be an effective coordinator as the Director of National Intelligence.

Many of the most pressing national security threats we face today are cross-cutting issues that involve technology and economics and go beyond the IC’s traditional focus on foreign military capabilities and foreign leadership intentions.

Jay’s time at the SEC and in the private sector has given him valuable experience with issues that the DNI faces on a daily basis: cyber threats from state and non-state actors, illicit finance, economic competition with China, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by both our adversaries and our own intelligence community. He brings valuable insight into each of these areas that will serve him well.

Jay holds a TS/SCI clearance and has worked in highly classified compartmented environments requiring discretion and security compliance.  As a result, he knows first-hand the critical importance of Section 702 of FISA. His extensive experience working across agencies is a quality needed as DNI. He has a working relationship with CIA director Ratcliffe that will make for a smooth transition into this leadership role.

While Jay may not have served in the intelligence community, he has the right mix of practical experience working with the IC, including experience with the Justice Department and coordination with the Department of the Treasury. His professional background is important to the growing demands being placed upon the IC related to technology and economic competition. Furthermore, his diverse experience in the private sector, the SEC and as a U.S. attorney in a very active district give him the wealth of management, leadership, and organizational experience to succeed in coordinating with all the different equities that make up the Intelligence Community.

In closing, I offer my strong endorsement for Mr. Clayton to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence. Thank you.

###