Proposals to raise South Dakota sales tax rejected

PIERRE — Lawmakers have rejected three proposals to raise South Dakota’s sales tax to prevent cuts to education, health care and other areas.

Throughout this year’s legislative session, a handful of Democratic and Republican legislators have suggested a temporary sales tax hike to help close the state’s estimated $127 million budget deficit. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and top Republican leaders say they’re opposed to new taxes.

On Monday, Republican Rep. Thomas Brunner, the chairman of the House Education Committee, offered a bill to raise the sales tax by 1 percent for six months, to raise $100 million for education and other spending. The House State Affairs Committee voted to reject the bill.

Bills to repeal sales tax exemptions for financial advisors and storage companies also failed in the Senate State Affairs Committee.