Getting to the number…

As I’ve mentioned before in this space, I serve as the lead Co-Chair on the Joint Appropriations Committee, the budgetary committee of the South Dakota Legislature. If we’re doing our job well, rarely will you hear about our work until the end of the session when the budget is presented. A major step in that process arrives this week, with the adoption of the revenue target number by the Joint Committee on Appropriations. The last two years in the Senate, I served as Chair and Vice-Chair of that subcommittee as our rules require. This year, I will watch as our committee carefully reviews all of the information we will be presented by the LRC Fiscal Staff and the Bureau of Finance and Management. The Revenue Selection Subcommittee will meet Wednesday following the sessions of the Senate and House. Upon their recommendation, that revenue target will be adopted by the Joint Committee on Appropriations Thursday Morning at 8am. The revenue target is the official budget number used to determine spending and will be the bottom line number used to deliver a balanced budget for the operation of the State of South Dakota, as required by our Constitution.

Of course, members of the Appropriations Committee also vote on the other Legislation that you do occasionally hear about in the news. This week, we’re looking at Spanish language drivers’ license testing and manuals, more laws on firearms, abandoned vehicles, and many more. Our committees are operating at full capacity in preparation for Crossover Day, the day on which all bills unless held by the Joint Committee on Appropriations must leave their chamber of origin. Crossover Day this year is February 22nd.

Thank you for the honor of serving you in the South Dakota Senate. If you would like to reach out to me, email works best wiikfor4@gmail.com, you may search all the bills and calendars at sdlegislature.gov and you may listen to committees and watch the floor sessions of the House and Senate online at sd.net Thanks, and have a great week!