South Dakota House Bill 1182 – the measure to raise the sales tax by a 1/2 cent to fund education and property tax relief, just passed the South Dakota State Senate on a vote of 25 to 10, giving the tax measure the 2/3 majority it needed to pass.
If I was listening correctly, The bill passed unamended, and now moves on to the Governor for signature.
Any thoughts or comments?
No comment necessary. What will teachers in small districts say when they aren’t getting the huge increase unless some of their fellow teachers get fired? Will they be happy? What will the truly good teachers feel when the mediocre or poor quality teachers in their schools get the same raises as them; will they continue to excel or just strive for mediocrity? Will this do anything at all to get more math/science teachers in the state?
I liked the story one legislator told where a person who makes about $20,000 a year will be asked to pay an extra $100 per person in increased taxes to a teacher who already makes an average of $40,000 a year. Is this truly the way to address this issue?
But, the education lobby has prevailed. By one vote in the House and two votes in the Senate. There were plenty of legislators that thought there should be a better way to go about this than simply a tax increase. I guess time will tell. It just shows that the squeaky wheel truly does get the grease.
I don’t see teachers getting a mass pass slip. Instead of firing teachers to meet the student teacher ratio targets, many districts will reach the ratios through attrition by not replacing retiring teachers and reorganizing teachers continuing to work so that school needs are filled. No one loses their jobs and the district reaches the student teacher ratio target to receive additional funds. This is what corporate America does to contain staff numbers.
I don’t think this could have been done in a worse way and a majority of so called Republicans applauded it… Sad day.
I feel sorry for the legislator who voted no, but in debate said he was going to lose friends no matter which way he voted. People would now accuse him of not liking teachers. But he felt this was not the way to address the problem. Sad that there could not have been alternative plans to address this issue that would be debated instead of the one plan drawn up before the task force had even started or completed its task. Will just wait to see if this solves the problem, but I doubt it because money is not the only issue.
Very unfortunate for our our state and families who live in poverty. Some schools were already bracing for the negative effects from this bill. Win for large districts – Loss for small districts
Yup..
Thank you to the too few, brave “nay voters”. SD is officially becoming a “progressive” state because of this governor and legislature.
When do my property taxes start going down?
You’ll still get an increase. Guaranteed.
And the teachers will flip out when the districts have to cut FTEs to make their $48,500 per year.
They won’t. They lower the levy and raise the assessed value. Most likely a wash maybe you will pay more.
The SDEA can wave a banner now and turn their attention to helping elect Democrats now that they utilized Republicans in assisting them to obtain a victory. The SDEA has never cared about cuts or the effects of a bill but rather how they can claim success and build from that. In theory schools will not replace retiring teachers however that is a theory as essentially the schools have been given a green light to cut with a a justification in doing it, as well as a way to stymie criticism since remaining teachers will get more money (theory again). Not a fan for increasing taxes however it would be easier to swallow if the money filtered to the teachers but there is a risk here that this is just a paper tiger designed to increase intake flowing into Pierre without any real benefit to education in South Dakota at all. A lot of people will be claiming this as a great victory to justify some future office, agenda or campaign. In the mean-time we’ll have more taxes and we’ll perhaps move from the 50th in the nation for teacher pay to the 49th. A great lesson here for civics class though. When a result is sought simply utilize a block or interest group whether the goal is to really help them or not and the the goal will sell itself.
Tony, I think you have confused the cause-and-effect relationship here. This legislative session has gone a long way to show that many Republican legislators and the Governor can and do take pro-education stands — not just lip service but backing those stands up with tough votes on funding. SDEA wants the success of education issues; as an organization, turning their backs on GOP allies from this last fight seems like foolish politics. I see teachers embracing and appreciating legislators from both sides of the aisle because of their support for 1182.
The last election cycle saw SDEA back pro-education GOP candidates. I would expect more of that if for no other reason that education will nor fare as well with a radical right/tea party swing.
Anonymous before you accuse conservative Republicans, like me, of not supporting education, you should have facts to back up your assertions.
I look forward to seeing them posted……………
Representative Craig, You claimed that you switched your vote so that all of the alternatives could be examined. When is that discussion going to take place? Did you actually believe that your switched vote would make that conversation more likely to occur?
Right on! What a bunch of BS! Have some political convictions! I’ll be donating to his conservative opposition! Politician of the worst kind in my opinion!
The supporters of the alternative plan never released it. I’m still waiting…
Anonymous, the amendments in the senate, to increase the sales tax to 4.25 or 4.3, were one of the plans. Another plan were to use some existing money in the budget. Plus it is hard to put an alternate plan together when the Governor and his allies present the bill on the last day when bills can be submitted to the floor.
The Governor, allies in the House and the leaders in the Senate deliberately did this so it be almost impossible to put a alternate bill on the House/Senate floor. Thus leading to your comment.
Once again the state does nothing more than throw more money at the problem. Because that has worked over the last 30 years. How much of every dollar will go towards education now? 75 cents?