By Victoria Wicks
The South Dakota House of Representatives voted down an increased tax levy to cover teachers’ pensions and health insurance. Currently the rate is set at 30 cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation. House Bill 1239 would have raised that amount to 40 cents.
Opponents say the bill increases taxes or leads to inequitable support from district to district.
Representative Susan Wismer speaks against the bill on the House floor: “The relative ability of the school to fund a quality education depends on the wealth of that particular school district, and that is not the way to fund education. So I look at this as just another indicator of the failure of our state to do what we have a responsibility to do.”
Proponents say the school district has a legal obligation to fund retirement and health insurance, but since the levy doesn’t cover the cost, the money comes out of general funds.