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Bill

SB 55

revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to general and special education formulas.

2025 Regular Session

SB 55 restructures South Dakota school funding by revising property tax levies and state aid formulas for general and special education programs.

Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 S.J. 539
#education #executive/judiciaryrequest #propertytax #schooldistricts #stateaidtoeducation #taxation
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Bill Summary · SB 55

Legislative bill overview

SB 55 modifies South Dakota's school funding mechanism by adjusting property tax levies for school districts and revising the state aid formulas for both general and special education programs. The bill passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by the Governor on March 31, 2025.

Why is this important

School funding directly affects educational quality, teacher compensation, facility maintenance, and special education services. Changes to property tax levies and state aid distribution formulas significantly impact both local taxpayers and the adequacy of resources available to individual school districts across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Property tax burden shift: Adjusting levies may redistribute financial responsibility between state funding and local property taxes, potentially benefiting some communities while disadvantaging others
  • Special education equity: Revising special education aid formulas could create winners and losers among districts, affecting access to services for students with disabilities
  • Local control vs. state mandates: Changes may limit school districts' ability to set independent budgets or could impose new state requirements on how funds are allocated

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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