New Tax Plan? (Sioux Falls, Pierre, Lead: sales, 2009, renters)

[Jammie]

OK, so tonight on the news they were talking about a new bill our state is working on. They are talking about decreasing property taxes by 35%. That would be both city and ag land. They would instead change our state tax from 4% to 6%.

Is that a good idea?

[DannyBanany]

I didn't vote on it because I need to learn more about it. I guess it may be beneficial because we would get a lot more revenue from tourists and visitors to our state. But then there's the chance that it would bring in less revenue depending on how many people actually visit our state and how much the people of South Dakota actually consume.

I guess, for me, it's kind of a wash.

[MJ1986]

You mean the state sales tax, right Jammie?
I'm not an economist, or expert on taxes, but I would say leave it the way it is.
A 4% to 6% is a huge jump, and with the economy, I think its a bad idea.
Of course, I don't own any property, so I would be the one getting screwed with this bill .

In all honesty, I haven't been too happy with our current legislature. Once again, abortion has come up. We've already voted on this twice!
They can't find funding for transportation.
And now they have some bill that's trying to stall the building of a casino right across the border in Larchwood, Iowa. Here's a link:
Sioux Falls casino bill advances in Pierre | argusleader.com | Argus Leader

[SDTraveler]

The one thing I can't understand is that the Governor's is proposing closing the School for the Deaf but he fights any suggestions of cutting the Dept. of Tourism's 11.5 million dollar budget. They use the majority of that money to advertise in other states. I personally don't think cutting that budget by a few million and giving it to the School would make a hill of beans difference in how many more tourist are going to come here or not. His excuse with the School is that they could provide the special education needs within the regular school system. Anyone that has ever had a child with a special education need in the SD school system knows that is a bunch of bull.

[Jammie]

Danny, the Journal probably has a bit about it. My local paper does, but there's very little info in that article or I'd have posted the link. I heard it on keloland so they may have a bit more in-depth info on their website.

MJ, yes~it is the state sales tax that they're talking about. I haven't read the article about the casino yet, but that's the one you just mentioned a couple weeks ago, right? Even if you don't own property yet, I'm wondering if it would reflect on rent. Of course, once rent is set, it rarely goes down.

Traveler, yea~you kind of have to wonder sometimes. Has there been anything new about the program that will also cut funding for small children with disabilities? Can't think of what it's called right now. I really wonder what they're thinking sometimes, too. Right now they just seem to have a lot of tough decisions to make.

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by SDTraveler

The one thing I can't understand is that the Governor's is proposing closing the School for the Deaf but he fights any suggestions of cutting the Dept. of Tourism's 11.5 million dollar budget. They use the majority of that money to advertise in other states. I personally don't think cutting that budget by a few million and giving it to the School would make a hill of beans difference in how many more tourist are going to come here or not. His excuse with the School is that they could provide the special education needs within the regular school system. Anyone that has ever had a child with a special education need in the SD school system knows that is a bunch of bull.

Couldn't have said it better... My younger brother has autism (Aspergers' Syndrome)... and the special ed/IEP is ridiculous... In the school my brother and I went to. My parents constantly fought with the school. I went to a very small school. And the principal/superintendent's response was "He's seems like a normal kid". Very frustrating. But I think thats the bad thing about going to a small school... They think everything is cut and dry.

[MJ1986]

Jammie, i posted a link to the Argus Leader in a post just a bit earlier.... I dont remember posting about casinos before tonight. But I could be wrong...

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by MJ1986

Jammie, i posted a link to the Argus Leader in a post just a bit earlier.... I dont remember posting about casinos before tonight. But I could be wrong...

OK, maybe that was someone else from Sx. Falls~Chris maybe? Someone posted about a new casino being built right across the border.

WELL, I still haven't voted yet cause I don't know which I'd prefer. I'm leaning toward the cut in property taxes.

[debey]

I have not voted, either......................

[SD snowbird]

I don't think I'll vote just yet either. I rent so property taxes aren't my biggest concern. I think about the sales tax increase and I think of other renters who would be seriously in danger if the sales tax was raised. What are they going to do if they are paying higher sales tax and can't afford the basics?? Scary, and as a state we have to think of the less fortunate first. Don't we??
I agree about the proposed cuts to the school for the deaf, sucks that they're even considering that one. Come on people, they need that school, it's very important. I don't have a lot of faith in the Sioux Falls school district as it is, my son's 13 and can't sign his own name because the school district spent only weeks on cursive writing in 3rd grade, they consider it a dead language because computers are used so much now. Still, we have to be able to sign our paychecks and legal documents, don't we???