SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The half penny increase in South Dakota's sales tax benefited teacher salaries, but school districts are also responding to changes in the education formula.
State Representative Wayne Steinhauer of Hartford says the Tri-Valley and West Central school districts are benefiting from the changes.
Steinhauer says those districts put a lot of the money towards starting teacher's salaries. He says if there's a recruiting issue you must consider starting salary, much like private enterprise, and that's what those two districts did.
However, Steinhauer says equalizing other money will be difficult.
He cites the bank franchise tax getting pulled away and being spread to the state. Other districts may have problems with a potential loss of wind farm taxes which also may be spread across the state
He says the formula needs time to achieve equilibrium before legislators consider changes.
Steinhauer says it's the actual year's enrollment that now drives the formula on a per pupil basis. He says there are some that are calling for a return to a two-year average to determine state aid to schools.
Some smaller school districts get less money because of declining enrollment.