ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The South Dakota Farmers Union held their forum Saturday at the Brown County Fair.  The topic this year was property tax cuts done this year by the South Dakota Legislature.

Lobbyist Mitch Ritcher moderated the forum.

SB96 allow counties to implement the .5% county sales tax.  Brown County Commissioner Mike Gage:

Brown County Director of Equalization, Gene Loeschke(Les-Key) defined what is owner occupied properties.

District 1 Representative Nick Fosness of Britton supported SB96.  He praised the Brown County Commission for allowing voters to decide this.

Britton is in Marshall County and they haven’t decided yet whether to implement SB96.

Fosness was opposed to SB245 which would raise the state sales tax from 4.2% to 4.5%.  He believes that the legislature may work to adjust that.

Commissioner Gage talked about what the county sales tax increase can do if implemented.

Loeschke described how properties are assessed within Brown County.(1:01)

If voters agree to county sales tax in November, Brown County Auditor Lynn Heupel talked about the revenue actually goes to Pierre before coming back to the county.

The Brown County Commission will look to officially put it on the ballot when they meet on Tuesday.