It ain’t easy being flush with money. That is, if you serve on the South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Appropriation Committee.
That’s according to Joint Appropriations Committee co-chair, Rep. Mike Derby from Rapid City. “The difference between appropriations then and now? We didn’t have the money we have now. You could say no, no, no, and hell no.”
Over the past couple of years, millions of dollars have come in from the federal government’s COVID relief appropriations and infrastructure funds. Also, the state’s economy has been doing well over the past few years, with sales taxes coming in above estimates.
However, Derby warned that tough times could be ahead and the ability for the state government to spend might not be so easy.
“The U.S. savings rate is at its lowest point in 40 years,” he said, indicating problems with the national economy. Derby says the state budget has to be “sustainable.”
Next week, the Joint Appropriations Committee will hear several spending bills, which Derby calls “a big week for us.”
(The South Dakota Broadcasters Association contributed to this story.)
Comments