PIERRE, S.D. (KXLG) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem delivered her 2021 Budget Proposal on Tuesday in Pierre and, as expected it was a lean budget. Part of the reason focuses on the loss of Internet and Data Tax being collected. Congress has eliminated the tax and that equates to an estimated $20 million revenue loss to South Dakota’s 2021 budget.

Representative Hugh Bartels from Watertown serves on the Appropriations Committee. He says they will be looking closely at the items listed in Governor Noem’s budget.

Representative Bartels says that Long Term Health care is an issue in South Dakota and the governor’s plan creates a tier-type system for those who are in assisted living centers.

Governor Noem’s budget proposal also includes almost $4 million for methamphetamine treatment centers across the state. Bartels says that one of those will be in the Watertown area.

There was another big item that Bartels says deals with money available to counties, cities and townships that have suffered from natural disasters this year.