Mortenson Realizes Swapping Property Tax for Sales Tax Transfers Wealth to Richest Homeowners

Mortenson Realizes Swapping Property Tax for Sales Tax Transfers Wealth to Richest Homeowners

In floor debate on Senate Bill 245 Monday, Representative Will Mortenson (R-24/Fort Pierre) aptly summarized the nature of the transfer of wealth that will result from this Session’s disappointing effort toward tax relief: Over half of the property tax relief, property tax transfer that will be done, would go to the 20% most valuable houses in town. Let me say that again: more than half this money we;re gonna put out is gonna go to the one fifth…

Senate approves property tax relief fund through state sales tax

Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff introduced Senate Bill 245 on March 11, 2026. Jonathan Ellis/The Dakota ScoutPIERRE – The South Dakota Senate voted Wednesday to create a property tax relief fund that will be financed with $110 million in state sales tax revenues.Senate Bill 245 also transfers nearly $56 million out of reserves into the property tax relief fund to get it started.The $110 million will automatically kick into the state budget w…

Trading property tax for sales tax

PIERRE — Two pieces of a property tax reduction package prepared by South Dakota’s legislative leadership and the executive branch are moving forward, but 1 bill failed during votes on