SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - South Dakota lawmakers late last night finalized a plan for raises for teachers, health care providers and state workers.
Joint Appropriations Committee member Senator John Wiik of Big Stone City says it's definitely a tough budget year, but they are proposing a .3% increase for those three groups.
The committee is set to meet this morning to complete the state's budget for fiscal 2018. Both bodies will then have to approve the budget and Governor Daugaard will have to sign it before it can take effect July 1.
Wiik says balancing the budget was a lot of hard work this session, but they kept "ringing the towel" until something came out.
Many lawmakers hoped to find some dollars for a small increase in salaries but the final appropriation could have been no raises at all.
Education funding was among the last issues legislators determined before the main run ends today. Because of lagging sales tax revenue, lawmakers are looking for cuts and nothing is off limits.
Two Senate Bills revising state aid to special education and general education formulas headed to conference committees late last night so differences could be worked out before the bills go to the Governor for his signature.
Education funding is falling largely along party lines. Some Democrats say an increase in funding to teachers and education should be delivered, but many Republicans counter that the state can't spend money it doesn't have.
