PIERRE (CNS) – For 115 years South Dakota has managed to annually ba1ance its budget and 2004 was no exception.

After mulling over the money for 34 days, the Appropriations Committee presented a $2.9 billion budget to lawmakers on the last day of the main run of the session Feb. 27.

“The revenue estimates went up, the economy of America got better,” said Sen Paul Dennert, D-Columbia, an eight-year veteran of the Appropriations process. “I’m here to say that we’re looking great and in good shape.”

Lawmakers heard good news from state fiscal analysts this month. Sales tax revenues have grown 6.9 percent in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 and the state took in $52 million more than expected, Sen. Marguerite Kleven, R-Sturgis, said.

About $1.9 billion of the budget is federal funds matched by $971 million in general funds. That includes a three percent increase to cover operating costs for hospitals, nursing homes and adjustment training centers. Lawmakers also approved an increase for those receiving temporary relief for needy families.

“We help those who can’t help themselves,” Rep. Jim Putnam, R-Armour, said.

Determining funding for the Dakota Opportunity Scholarship Program was an issue lawmakers debated until the final day of the 2004 session, but they finally approved enough money to give the state’s incoming college freshmen a $5,000 scholarship over four years.

Each year students qualifying for the program will get $1,000 until their fourth year when they’ll receive $2,000. Lawmakers allocated enough money for two years of the program.

The money made a statement to high school students, Sen. Duane Sutton, R-Aberdeen, said.

“Not only do we want to help pay for your college education but we want you to stay here after you’ve completed that college education,” he said.

Funding to create a science authority to manage conversion of the Homestake Mine in Lead to a national underground science laboratory was listed as one of the year’s successes.

“This document is a financial roadmap for the citizens of South Dakota,” Sutton said. “We’ve done some great things through the process.”

The Legislature adjourned its main run following approval of the budget. The Senate approved the general bill on a 32-3 vote. The House voted to pass the bill 68-1.

Lawmakers will return to Pierre on March 15 to address any vetoes of bills by Gov. Mike Rounds.

PIERRE (CNS) – South Dakota students will have a new opportunity this fall.

Lawmakers set aside $1.95 million this session to fund the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship Program. That’s enough for 2004′s incoming freshman and for next year’s freshmen and sophomores.

Those who qualify as regents scholars and attend a state college, university or technical school will get $5,000 over four years. Students will receive $1,000 the first three years and $2,000 for the fourth.

The bill started out giving students $6,000 for their college education, but the House and Senate could not agree on that amount. A conference committee was appointed and reached the $5,000 compromise.

For three years lawmakers have debated a state scholarship program. Last year they passed a law creating the regents scholarship, but included no funding. This year lawmakers were committed to creating a paid scholarship program, renaming it the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship.

“We wanted to reinforce the idea that this truly is an opportunity for our young people,” Rep. Bill Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, said.

Peterson will leave the Legislature following the 2004 session because of term limits. He made it a personal goal to get funding for the program this session.

“I think that’s a very good start,” he said of the money allocated.

Rep. Ben Nesselhuf, D-Vermillion, argued that lawmakers could approve more money and use the two years before it was needed to find the money.

“If we lower it today … I don’t think we will ever get it raised again,” he said.

“Last year we didn’t have any money for this program,” Peterson said. “We’ve got a chance to fund this program this year.”

He asked representatives to approve the compromise.

“Five thousand dollars over four years is a commitment we can keep,” he said. “It’s a heck of a lot more this year than last year.”

The House voted 52-6 to approve the scholarship plan. Senators passed the bill on a vote of 35-0.

PIERRE (CNS) – The South Dakota Legislature passed a $2.7 billion budget on March 8 that some said was argued about mostly behind closed doors and without the input of Democrats that sit on the Appropriations Committee.

Lawmakers voted on a balanced budget, but at least in the Senate they didn’t do it without some opposition.

Sen. Paul Symens, D-Amherst, who is a past Appropriations Committee chairman, argued that the general budget bill could have been delivered to the House and Senate floors earlier than the last day – it was when he ran the committee.

“It’s no wonder people out there in the state wonder what in the devil is going on in Pierre,” he said.

Symens said getting the bill at the last minute gave lawmakers no time for review before voting.

“Most members of the body should be voting no on it because they don’t know what’s in it,” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, this thing stinks. It stinks to high heaven.”

Sen. Jerry Apa, R-Lead, said he sympathized with Symens.

“I don’t blame him for being upset,” he said. “We’re pushing the clock. There were too many loggerheads all over the place.”

The Appropriations Committee meets and hears reports from state departments and agencies and also testimony on spending bills throughout the session. Apa said Republican and Democrat Appropriations Committee members also meet separately and that’s part of the political process. They both can bring their own amendments to the general bill.

“That’s how we do it, we both have different agendas,” he said. “You don’t lay your cards on the table. Politics don’t work that way.”

One new member of the Appropriations Committee was disappointed with the lack of input her caucus had in discussions.

Rep. Julie Bartling, D-Burke, said she would have liked to discuss areas Republicans were concerned with rather than having the budget “thrown at us basically in the form of amendments.”

“I just don’t think that’s a real straightforward, open way to handle it when we’re dealing with a state budget of this size,” she said.

“I don’t feel I’m a real part of the whole process and I’m just a little discouraged by that.”

Lawmakers argued most of the session on whether to raise taxes on cigarettes 30 or 20 cents per pack. They also disagreed on whether to tax smokeless tobacco products. Legislators finally agreed on the 20-cent version that didn’t include increasing taxes on products like chewing tobacco.

Gov. Mike Rounds also wanted a three percent pay raise for state employees because he says he’s going to ask a lot of them in the coming year, which means they’ll be responsible for helping him find ways to trim state spending. But lawmakers balked at that plan in a year when it was projected they would have a $54 million shortfall in funds. They ended up giving state employees a two-percent raise.

Those two fights held up formal discussion on the budget until about 1 p.m. on March 8, the last day of the session’s main run. When appropriators sat down to hash out budget details there were about 40 amendments on the table.

“In the last minute, changes are happening,” Rep. Jim Putnam, R-Armour, said.

The Senate passed the bill 26-8. The House passed it 69-0.