SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota Legislative Research Council reports that state sales taxes in July were up over 17 percent compared to last year and 10 percent above the legislature’s projection.

Senator Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls, a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee, says that was a nice surprise.

Nesiba says the state’s economy is held up by billions of dollars from the federal government.

Nesiba says without more federal support those numbers could fall as fast as they rose.

Congress is still deadlocked over the next round of economic stimulus.