PIERRE – The Study Committee on County Funding and Services held their first meeting of the 2023 Interim
on Wednesday. The meeting was held in Room 414 of the State Capitol in Pierre.
The Study Committee on County Funding and Services is chaired by Representative Roger Chase (R-Huron) with
vice chair Senator Randy Deibert (R-Spearfish). The committee will examine the appropriate administration and
funding of certain services to be provided by county governments in areas related to medical assistance and
mental health, elections, criminal courts, veterans services, and cybersecurity. At their first meeting, members
will hear from state agencies, the Unified Judicial System, and law enforcement and county associations.
District 20 Representative Lance Koth of Mitchell is a member of the committee. He says he has an interest in understanding if there is any opportunity to consolidate some services in certain areas of the state. Koth also says that the committee should take a look at what some of the more successful counties in the state are doing.
In addition to Representative Chase, Senator Deibert, and Representative Koth, committee members include Representatives Amber Arlint (R-Sioux Falls), Kirk Chaffee (R-Whitewood), John Mills (R-Brookings), Neal Pinnow (R-Lemmon), and Tim Reisch (R-Howard), and Senators Jim Bolin (R-Canton), Helene Duhamel (R-Rapid City), David Johnson (R-Rapid City), Liz Larson (D-Sioux Falls), Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre), and Al Novstrup (R-Aberdeen).
The committee will meet again in July.