PIERRE - If trends among property tax opt-outs for counties, cities and schools during the most recent four years are an indicator, there's no crystal ball about what South Dakota voters might decide this fall about adopting an additional 1 percent of state sales tax.
If passed, Initiated Measure 15 would split the additional sales-tax revenue between public schools, based on enrollment, and Medicaid programs. The issue will be decided as part of the Nov. 6 statewide general election, in which absentee voting began Friday.
There have been 57 attempts by elected boards for cities, counties and school districts to raise property taxes above their standard legal levels, known as opting out, since the start of 2009.
Thirty-six went into effect without being referred to public votes. Some were part of school reorganization and consolidation plans. Some were extensions essentially of opt-outs that had already been in place and were due to expire.
But, of 21 opt-outs that were decided by local voters, nine passed and 12 failed. In a few instances, there were multiple votes in the same county or school district in the same year or within the span of a few years.
The most recent results showed how opinion splits. Voters rejected the opt-out proposed in Castlewood school district, while voters approved the opt-out for Hoven school district.
Hoven appears to have been the first opt-out approved by voters in a city, county or school district this year. Beside Castlewood, opt-outs also were defeated in Jerauld County, Dell Rapids, Potter County and Yankton school district.
Meanwhile, 12 opt-outs were adopted this year without being sent by the governing board to voters or being petitioned to a public vote. The largest was $4 million for Minnehaha County.
Information collected by the state Department of Revenue on opt-outs indicates only one opt-out was attempted in 2011 by a county, city or school district. It was defeated.
In 2010, there were 17 opt-outs attempted. Nine took effect without going to a public vote. Of the eight that were on local ballots, five passed.
For 2009, there were 21 opt-outs attempted. Fifteen went into place without a public vote. Of the six that were sent to the ballot, three passed.
There have been many dozens of small opt-outs adopted for townships, fire districts, ambulance districts and road districts.