Education-tax levies will change for 2013

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PIERRE — Statewide tax levies for general education would increase somewhat on commercial property and owner-occupied homes, while agricultural property would see a slight decrease, under legislation that received final adoption Tuesday by the state House of Representatives.

The changes are for taxes payable in 2013. South Dakota lawmakers adjust the levies annually to reflect changes in student enrollment and property valuations statewide, so that the funding relationship between state and local revenues is preserved.

State aid provides 53.8 percent of the basic funding per student, while local property taxes cover 46.2 percent. The amount per student will be set at $4,490.92 for the coming school year.

House members voted 67-3 for the legislation, Senate Bill 49. The Senate had previously approved it 34-0.

The bill now goes to the governor to sign it into law or not.

The general-education levy on agriculture property would drop from the current $2.388 per $1,000 of taxable value to $2.322 for 2013, while the levy on owner-occupied homes would rise from the present $3.965 per $1,000 value to $4.029.

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