For a second straight year, South Dakota legislators are dealing with falling sales tax revenues

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PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) — For a second straight year, South Dakota legislators are dealing with falling sales tax revenues following several years of plenty.  Those revenues are the driver for the state budget.  Economist Derek Johnson of the Bureau of finance and Management briefed the appropriations committee, noting sales tax revenues are running nearly one percent below the expectations lawmakers used in constructing the budget earlier this year.  That translates into $13-million less revenue to support the budget.  At the same time, federal funding is being reduced, so the committee has its hands full dealing with the impact.  If revenues continue to fall and go too far, the legislature will have to consider revising the budget.