Are South Dakota House Legislative Updates Delivering on Property Tax Reform?

Property taxes are one of the most emotionally charged issues in South Dakota politics. Ask any homeowner in Rapid City, Custer, or Hot Springs, and the frustration is the same: taxes keep rising, and the relief never quite arrives. The South Dakota House legislative updates coming out of Pierre reflect an ongoing, and unfinished, conversation about how to make the system fairer. Representative Tim Goodwin of District 30 has been one of the most consistent voices in that conversation.

Why Are South Dakota Property Tax Discussions So Persistent?

South Dakota collects approximately 1.49 billion dollars annually through property taxes, according to Goodwin's published legislative analysis. Unlike income tax, which South Dakota does not levy, property tax falls on homeowners regardless of current income. A retiree on a fixed income faces the same assessment increases as a high earner who bought recently. This creates real hardship in rural communities where land values have risen sharply but household incomes have not kept pace. South Dakota property tax discussions have intensified as housing costs have climbed nationally and state revenues have grown.

What Has Tim Goodwin Proposed?

Goodwin's proposal is the most structurally ambitious in recent SD legislative history. He suggests eliminating residential property taxes entirely and replacing them with a consumption-based sales tax increase. His math: every 1% of state sales tax generates approximately 300 million dollars in revenue. A 5.5% increase would produce roughly 1.5 billion, slightly exceeding the total property tax collected. The current state sales tax rate is 4.5%, which would rise to approximately 9.5% or 10% under his preferred scenario. He has openly acknowledged the tradeoffs and invited public input via his personal email. Check current South Dakota House legislative updates and bill tracking at sdlegislature.gov.

How Have South Dakota Voters Responded?

Public feedback, as reflected in constituent letters Goodwin has published on his site, has been notably positive. One letter from a retired U.S. Army Colonel in Custer wrote that if South Dakota eliminated property taxes via a consumption model, it would be a revolutionary step in support of private citizen rights. The letter echoed a common frustration: people who have paid off their mortgages still effectively rent their homes from the state through annual property tax obligations. That framing resonates. When South Dakota property tax discussions move from abstract policy to lived experience, support for reform tends to build.

Highlights from Goodwin's property tax reform work:

• Proposed replacing all residential property taxes with a 5.5% sales tax increase.
• Calculated that 13.5 million annual tourists to South Dakota would contribute under a consumption tax model.
• Noted that a Summer Study on Property Tax recommended reducing home assessments by 100,000 dollars per residence, another approach to the same underlying problem.
• Has invited constituent feedback directly at [email protected].

What Are the Legislative Challenges Ahead?

Property tax reform at this scale requires both chamber majorities and gubernatorial support. Goodwin has consistently worked across committee assignments to build that support. He served on the Taxation and Transportation committees early in his tenure and has maintained relationships with colleagues across the caucus. His work on HB-1110 demonstrated his ability to build consensus. The property tax bill is harder because the fiscal stakes are higher, but the foundation is there. Visit timrgoodwin.com/who-we-are for his legislative philosophy.

Why Tim Goodwin's Property Tax Push Matters for District 30

As South Dakota House legislative updates continue to roll out ahead of the next session, the property tax debate is far from settled. For residents of Pennington, Custer, and Fall River counties, the stakes are personal. Tim R. Goodwin has put forward a real, specific proposal. Now the question is whether South Dakota is ready to take it seriously. Call 605.390.5324 or visit timrgoodwin.com to weigh in.