On January 31, 2024, SB167, which would limit Property Tax increases on owneroccupied single family dwellings, was brought to Senate Taxation and passed 4 yeas and 3 nays. It then went to the Senate floor.
Senate floor on February 1, 2024, killed the bill. We had 11 Senators who thought we should pass to at least try and talk about how to resolve the property tax hike throughout the state and 20 voted No. I know the No votes had a reason for that but let’s get together for the citizens. Too much strain on good people.
Yes Vote: Beal, Frye-Mueller, Hoffman, Johnson, Kolbeck J.,(Sponsor), Kolbeck S., Maher, Mehlhaff, Novstrup, Otten, Zikmund No Vote: Bolin, Pischke, Bordeaux, Reed, Breitling, Crabtree, Davis, Delbert, Duhamel H, Hunhoff, Klumb, Larson, Nesiba, Rohl, Schoenbeck, Schoenfish, Stalzer, Tobin, Wheeler, Wink D.
Excused: Diedrich, Foster, Wiik In Senate Taxation committee, there was one Senator (Jack, Kolbeck) two House (Trish Ladner, Dennis Krull) and me, Lisa Gennaro, that was present at the hearing, all testifying for the citizens of South Dakota. Lea Anne McWhoter from Custer, SD who attended by Zoom to testify.
The people who opposed the bill were several lobbying groups, I believe about 11 of them saying we can’t do anything because this would affect the mill levy and other things. This is when big money gets involved and looks out for the businesses and other groups. I know these groups are needed, but not at the backs of citizens.
An assessment limit sets a cap for how much the assessed value of your property can increase from one period to the next. (For example, an assessment limit might not allow your home’s assessment to increase by more than 3%, even if the property’s market value increases by 20%.) NO South Dakota Doesn’t have limit.
A rate limit sets a cap for the rate at which a jurisdiction can tax your property. This limit can help keep your tax bill from increasing when there hasn’t been a change to your property’s assessment. YES, South Dakota has a limit.
A levy limit caps how much property tax revenue a government can collect. The levy limit refers to all revenue, not only the revenue from one property. Yes, South Dakota has a limit. (This information is true to my knowledge) I want to start by saying, I understand the need for property tax (even though it would be nice not to have) but we need a cap on our taxes and assessments.
As a person who is at the capital every year trying to help lobby for good bills and keeping our freedoms in South Dakota, this is one close to my heart.
I work with the elderly community, people who have been here their whole life, or a big portion of their lives. The last two years, I have had citizens hand me their assessments and taxes because they have gone up soooo much, they are afraid they won’t be able to stay in their homes. This isn’t just one or two people, this is several.
These people made South Dakota. They have worked hard for years. Now with the growth of people moving in and paying cash for homes, paying twice the value of a home. This is affecting our citizens, the ones we are supposed to help and look after when they get older.
Some of the emails we have received. Some of the quotes. a) “A retired Veteran since 1999 and on a fixed income, we could be facing the possibility of being taxed out of our home, 2018 went up 13.49%, 2019 @ 16.28% and 2022 at 31.00%, my taxes have followed the same.” b) “Our assessment for our home (6 miles out of Rapid) increased 25%. I was told that it wouldn’t necessarily increase our taxes. I received our tax bill today and it went up 23%” This is happening all over the state, but some areas hit harder than others. The State average for Property Tax and Who Paid.
Owner Occupied % of Total – 2022 – 41.44%, 2023 – 42.78% Agricultural – 2022 – 23.59%, 2023 – 22.08% Commercial – 2022 – 30.33%, 2023 – 30.79% There are others but this is the bulk of who paid what on Taxes. I am being told that the taxes need to be fair. SB167 in my opinion and it could be wrong, it did nothing to change the method to determine Agriculture or Commercial taxes, but only give relief to Owner Occupied.
We have so many smart people, lawyers, tax people, educators, and others. I appreciate our Senators and Legislators, but it is your job to come up with a solution.
It is time to help the people who built this wonderful state.
Thank you to all, and I know you do care.
Lisa Gennaro is a Keystone resident and former District 30 candidate for House of Representatives.