South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem originally hired her daughter, Kennedy Noem in 2018 to be part of her transition team. Kennedy Noem who had not yet graduated from South Dakota State University received a salary of $40,000 per year.

KELO TV is reporting that since then Kennedy has become a Policy Analyst and given a salary bump to $50,000 per year. Then a few months ago in July South Dakota state employees received a planned 2.5% salary increase. Kennedy Noem's salary then moved to $51,250 per year.

According to Open SD Kennedy Noem is now making a salary of $57,912.50. That's a $17,912.50 pay increase in just over a year.

In Governor Noem's budget address on December 2 she stated that “Due to the lack of revenue growth I will not be able to recommend inflationary increase for education or Medicaid providers or for state employee salaries.”


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