PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- Counties may not get much help from the South Dakota Legislature this year. County finances were the focus of a summer study but Governor Kristi Noem’s budget only included money to set up a statewide public defender office. District 24 Senator Jim Mehlhaff says he will work to adjust where the state’s alcohol tax goes.
District 24 Representative Mike Weisgram thinks Noem sent a message to counties by not focusing more on counties in her budget address.
District 24 Representative Will Mortenson says using state money to help counties is a difficult balance.
District 20 Representative Lance Koth of Mitchell served on the committee. He told KMIT he was disappointed that Governor Kristi Noem did not address the issue during her budget address earlier this month.
The 2024 legislative session is 38-days long and will begin January 9th.