SD lawmakers OK bonus pay, school money

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PIERRE — A revised version of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s plan to give state workers a one-time bonus was approved Thursday by the South Dakota Legislature.

The House voted 61-6 to agree to changes the Senate made in a spending bill that also provides extra state aid to school districts and medical services for poor people.

The bill spends about $31 million in state, federal and other funds to pay for the bonuses to state employees. The portion from state general tax funds is $12.3 million.

The governor originally proposed that all state employees would get bonuses equal to 5 percent of their annual salaries.

The revised version sets a floor and ceiling — no full-time employee who has worked for the state for at least three years would get less than $2,300 or more than $7,500. Those hired before March 24, 2009, would get a full 5 percent payment. Those who have worked for the state for more than two years but less than three years could get 3.4 percent. And those who have worked for the state at least a year but less than two years would get 1.7 percent.

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