In the session’s final days, Republican lawmakers are expecting to make some tough compromises on the state’s budget. But Democratic leaders say it’s time to dip into the budget reserves.
Even between the two chambers, Senate Majority Leader Jim Bolin sees differences in budget priorities. For example, he says the Senate is prioritizing funds for needs-based scholarships and a new health sciences building at the University of South Dakota, but he knows House Republicans don’t agree.
“There’s gonna be compromise but there’s also gonna be determination to try to achieve some of these goals too, so.”
Democratic leadership has held firm on a two-percent raise for educators, and the governor has asked to keep community service providers and state employees at the same increase. House Majority Leader Lee Qualm says no way.
“From my perspective, to get all three to two percent, I don’t think we can do that. I think that’s an impossibility unless we start really cutting some place to make that happen and at this point I think that’d be very difficult to do.”
But Democrats say there’s money in reserve to support some of this year’s priorities. Senate Minority Leader Troy Heinert points to legislative research records.
“In the average over the last several years we’ve probably put anywhere from ten to twelve million a year into reserves above after funding everything we’d already agreed to.”
He says there’s plenty of common ground on priorities among Republicans, Democrats, and the governor—like expanding broadband services.
“Maybe it’s time we start using that money to fund these priorities.”
A budget is expected next week.