Sales Tax Hike for Teacher Pay Narrowly Fails in the House
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A proposed half-cent sales tax increase that would have helped fund Governor Dennis Daugaard's plan to improve South Dakota teacher pay has narrowly failed in the state House of Representatives.
Legislators on Thursday voted 46-23, just one vote short of the two-thirds margin required to pass a tax hike.
Supporters will have another chance because a lawmaker intends to have it reconsidered later. Tony Venhuizen, the governor's chief of staff, says the administration just needs one lawmaker to flip.
Republican Representative Steve Westra opposed the plan. He says the education system is broken, not underfunded.
Republican Representative Jacqueline Sly, a supporter, says South Dakota needs competitive salaries and quality teachers to educate the state's children.
More than $60 million from the hike would have gone toward the teacher salary plan.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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