Just when you think something is done, it isn’t.
A maneuver on the House floor today called a “Smoke out” will bring SB135 (city sales tax increases) to the House floor even though a committee had voted it down. Â ALL the Rep’s will vote on it now.
Please contact all your Rep’s before noon tomorrow (Tue).
Choose some point or points you think might resonate:
— Very likely there will be significant tax increases this session for highways. So this is not the time to be adding more tax increases to what already is probably coming!
– Talk about a tax increase! This one is a 50% increase in sales tax for cities! (2% to 3% is a 50% increase!) This is huge, especially for Sioux Falls, where population is growing, and sales tax revenue too – much faster than the population. The Argus just reported Sioux Falls has a reserve equal to 37.2% of its budget. Some cities may need new revenue, but even for those, this is the wrong way to raise it.
— This bill raises the most regressive tax we have!
SB135 hits harder on the lower-income people, who already pay a greater portion of income than the well-off. Legislators like to tout what a low income state SD is. Well, we do have lower taxes overall, but only for some of us. People with lowest fifth of incomes pay a higher portion of income than the national average.
— This bill would take more food off tables. Families with limited budgets for food already lose 3 weeks worth of food over a year to state and local tax. This bill would cost them 3-and-a-half weeks worth.
— SB135 is for special projects and requires a local vote, and legislators love “local control.”  But you know how a city can call just about anything a special project and bring out supporters in a low-turnout election. (streets for Sioux Falls. How special is that?)
Please help these Rep’s see that meeting basic human needs (food and heat) should have their higher priority than local control.
TO CONTACT REP’S: Email them.
The format is  rep.lastname@state.sd.us
Call and leave a message for one or two Rep’s,  605-773-3851