South Dakota ranked ninth in the nation in budget balancing efforts

PIERRE, S.D. –- A new report by the PewCenter on the States shows that state government in South Dakota is ninth best in the nation when it comes to balancing the budgetary books.

The state Constitution requires a balanced budget, and Gov. Mike Rounds credits the Legislature with taking that role seriously each year.

“The lengthy recession and slow recovery present difficult challenges, but the Legislature understands the need to be fiscally prudent,” the Governor said.

Gov. Rounds will unveil his annual budget proposal in an address to a joint session of the Legislature on Dec. 8.

“I believe state lawmakers are willing to work with me again in adopting a new budget that will preserve essential services,” the Governor said. “The recession should be a powerful reminder that we can’t make promises for additional services unless we have the ongoing revenues to pay for them.”

The Pew study gave South Dakota state government a financial score of 12 on a scale that considers 30 to be the most fiscally imperiled and zero to be the most fiscally sound. New Mexico and West Virginia were tied for 9th place with South Dakota.