MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Doubts remain over whether meaningful property tax reform will pass during the upcoming South Dakota legislative session, despite months of work by the Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force.
The task force met eight times across the state over a five-month period and ultimately produced 19 separate proposals. During the most recent legislative session, more than a dozen property tax-related bills were debated, but none resulted in significant reform.
The issue has become increasingly urgent for residents statewide. A Bon Homme County commissioner told the task force that people are being evicted from their homes due to delinquent property taxes. Many South Dakotans have also reported sharp increases in their property tax bills, sometimes rising significantly in a single year.
The proposals developed by the task force take a variety of approaches. Some focus on modifying existing property tax relief programs by expanding eligibility or simplifying the application process. Others target school district funding mechanisms and administrative processes tied to property taxes.
Despite concerns about the large number of proposals, task force chair Sen. Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, expressed cautious optimism. Karr said the complexity of property taxes requires multiple solutions addressing different parts of the system, and that the volume of ideas should not discourage lawmakers or the public.
Lawmakers are expected to debate several of the proposals during the next legislative session.