PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — Fighting meth and fighting back from all the state’s weather disasters were two of Governor Kristi Noem’s top spending priorities in her State Budget Address on Tuesday.
“There is just so much still that needs to be done, fixed and rebuilt in our communities,” Noem declared as she called for new loan programs to help cities, towns, and tribes recover from disasters.
Noem shared a story of redemption – as she proposed near $4 million for more intensive treatment programs for meth victims – about a young woman strung out on meth, homeless, pregnant, who had to give up her baby, but then through intervention is now free from drugs, has her child back, and a job.
“When I first heard this story I was amazed by the redemption it portrays and I want to hear stories like this over and over again.”
Noem also called for $5 million toward a new health sciences building at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
She called for more money for internet technology, connectivity, and healthcare, including a more liberal reimbursement formula to help ease South Dakota’s nursing home crisis.
The Governor is scaling back in some areas of the budget to make money available for other areas for what is expected to be a financially challenging year in Pierre.
South Dakota’s proposed state budget for the 2021 fiscal year would be $4.92 billion.
