PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The Pierre City Commission has unanimously passed a resolution (Oct. 15, 2024) formally stating their opposition to Initiated Measure 28 on South Dakota’s Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot.
Mayor Steve Harding says based on their understanding of what happens if IM28 is approved, the town’s recently passed $60 million budget for 2025 would have to be redone.
With seven different issues on the ballot to decide on, City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga hopes voters do research before casting their ballot one way or another.
Supporters of IM28 say it would eliminate the state’s 4.2% portion of the sales tax charged on most things sold for human consumption, but municipalities’ tax stream wouldn’t be affected. Opponents of IM28, however, say the verbiage of the measure is unclear so there’s a chance municipalities could lose that revenue stream.
The Attorney General’s Office provides a neutral explanation for each of the seven ballot measures that can be found under the “2024 Ballot Questions” option on the Secretary of State’s website. Additionally, the AG’s explanations are printed on the sample ballots that are currently available, as well as being printed on the actual ballots people use to vote. The pamphlet also includes information supplied by proponents and opponents, but that information is not printed on the actual ballots.
The South Dakota Secretary of State’s office encourages all voters to use the Voter Information Portal at sdsos.gov to see their sample ballot. Voters are allowed to print a sample ballot, fill it out at home and bring it with them as a guide when they cast their official ballot.