There was a poll released over the weekend on Stormland TV that most people support increasing the sales tax for three months in the summer to increase teacher pay. They feel that tourists will mostly be paying the tax.

Poppycock.

First off, while I do think our teachers deserve better pay, I have often felt their pay is inline with what other South Dakotans make, in other words, we all make crappy wages.

Secondly, taxing food and other necessities is the wrong way to go about paying teachers. We need to find ways to reduce sales taxes, not increase them. They are regressive and a poor way to fund education.

Thirdly, the state has the money to give school districts in reserves, they just refuse to, this is a legislative issue, not a funding issue.

As for tapping into tourism to raise teacher pay, I think that is a great idea. How about we set a corporate tax on seasonal tourism businesses? Or how about we have a state tax fee on hotel rooms during the summer? If we truly want tourism to pay for the pay increase, then lets direct the taxes AT tourism?

Once again another stupid idea from Pierre and the minions follow suit.

10 Thoughts on “We don’t need an increase in Sales Taxes

  1. AMEN!!!

  2. Dan Daily on October 27, 2014 at 7:12 pm said:

    Our property tax rate is higher than adjoining states. There must be caution not to increase combined taxes or there will be migration. It’s a delicate issue.

    For me, I already purchase most food/clothing in Minnesota and buy online without sales tax. Let them raise sales tax and there will be others like me such that revenue is the same but there’s less in state sales.

  3. rufusx on October 27, 2014 at 7:53 pm said:

    Actually average household income in SD has been on the rise over the past few years – to the extent that SD is now about in the middle of the 50 states (28th or so) in terms of average household income. But as we all know – teacher salaries have NOT been a part of this trend and our teachers remain the LOWEST paid in the nation – BY FAR. And you’re right about one thing – the whole “but it costs less to live here” argument – is entirely BOGUS. In fact, when taking everything into account – SD is right about in the middle of the relative COL curve too.

  4. hornguy on October 27, 2014 at 7:57 pm said:

    How come every tax in South Dakota has to be some kind of gimmick and for some kind of specific purpose? Extra sales tax, but only in the summer and for teachers! Income tax, but only on contractors and banks!

    I swear to God, “conservative” in South Dakota just means “find a way to take other people’s money to pay for shit.” Here’s a novel concept, South Dakotans. Want better schools for your kids? Open your own damn wallets and pay for it. It’s not complicated.

  5. Lemming on October 27, 2014 at 11:17 pm said:

    Cheers! I don’t care who suggests it or why its suggested, we all pay enough taxes.

  6. How about an income tax? Oh wait, then SD wouldn’t be “business friendly”. Quality of life be damned, we must be business (i.e. rich people) friendly!

  7. Tom – Go wash your mouth out with soap (or at least pour it on your keyboard). Tax the wealthy in the state?! What a concept? Nope, gotta tax poor people’s food so we can give a Canadian Oil company a tax incentive that they didn’t even ask for.

  8. Oh, my sweet Odin, I can’t stand our governor.

  9. So you want to tell us how an income tax would only tax the rich??? I’m sure you’ll give the example of our tiered federal taxes. Hows that working for the poor and the middles already?

    You keep bitching about the working class getting smaller but now you want an income tax. Epic failure to understand how economics work.

    So the sales tax is what’s holding back the poor? Yet you support outrageous tax on tobacco and alcohol while the poor have the greatest percentage of tobacco/alcohol use. The poor also spend the largest percentages of income on gambling.

    If you give this state 1 fucking nickel more in new taxes before gambling revenue is returned back to funding education you are certifiably insane.

    And for the record, it’s not the conservatives who drove this to be on the ballot.

  10. I meant to say middle class not working class.

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