Legislative Action Alert

Keep those phone calls and e-mails coming! SB 173 will be considered by the House of Representatives tomorrow (Friday) thanks to your efforts encouraging the support of your Representatives. Don't stop now! Please call your state Representative ASAP and encourage them to pass SB 173. Further details and talking points are below along with specific Representatives we encourage you to contact. If you have questions regarding SB 173, call Jodie on her cell phone at 605.280.9462.

SB 173 - Contact your state Representative TODAY
and urge them to pass SB 173!!

Senate Bill 173 is a significant policy change by the state that recognizes the current market-based approach for ag land valuations doesn’t work. The Governor refers to the current market-based valuation approach as a “ticking time bomb.” SB 173 replaces the old, broken system with a program that uses productive value for assessing agricultural land for property tax purposes. Productivity valuation is a proven methodology, being used by the majority of states. Designed to be revenue-neutral on a statewide basis, this bill does not require ag landowners to pay an increased amount of taxation nor give a tax break for agriculture. In some areas, agricultural land values will increase, in other areas valuations will decrease. This bill is designed to limit the amount of valuation increases through a phase-in period.

SB173 is a positive solution to the current property tax assessment dilemma facing South Dakota. SB173 repeals the 150% throw-out rule and implements a productivity-based approach for valuing agricultural land.

Reasons for supporting SB173:

1. SB173 is designed to protect both taxpayers and local budgets.
2. SB173 implements a productivity-based approach for valuing crop and pasture land. This follows the lead of a majority of states (over 30 states currently use productivity basis for valuing ag land).
3. For crop and pasture land, market-based valuations are a true reflection of “value” only at the time the land is sold. The inherent value of agricultural land is its ability to produce crops or support livestock.
4. The market-driven property tax assessment method for ag land does not work.

This issue will be on the calendar for the House of Representatives tomorrow so it’s imperative that you contact your Representative before 10:00 am on Thursday, March 1 . Contact information for your Representative can be found at the links below. Please call tonight!

House Lobby Phone - 605.773.3851

District Map - http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/legislative_map_color_seal.pdf

Legislative Roster by District - http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/district.htm .