PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — Lawmakers had mixed reactions following South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s latest budget remarks to the legislature.
The news was good, but some were skeptical if the eleven-minute speech before a joint session of the legislature was entirely necessary.
“I’m not sure what changed overall if anything,” said one lawmaker privately.
The Governor presented her annual budget address to lawmakers last December, as required by law. Today’s remarks reinforced her priorities such as rural broadband development and a proposed event complex to be located in Huron.
Noem cautioned lawmakers not to overspend despite projected additional revenues saying, “we need to view our budget an opportunity to invest in infrastructure, cut long-term expenses, and bolster our savings and investments.”
The legislative appropriations process continues as lawmakers work toward the final day of the session on March 11, 2021.
(Patrick Callahan, SDBA, contributed this report.)