Publication date: April 27, 2022
Written by: Stefani Buhajla
The Center for Excellence in Polling recently surveyed likely voters in South Dakota to evaluate their opinions on tax and fee increases in the state.
Survey results indicate broad and often bipartisan support for reforms that will make it more difficult to raise taxes and fees or enact expensive government programs in the state without input from voters.
Voters want to have a say in tax-related decisions and support making it more difficult to increase taxes
70%
…of all likely voters say voters should have more of a say when it comes to increasing state taxes and fees. Voters expressed broad bipartisan support, including 73 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of Democrats, and 67 percent of no-party voters, for including voters in decisions to increase taxes and fees.
58%
…of all likely voters support measures that would make it more difficult to raise state taxes and fees. This includes support from 64 percent of Republicans, as well as a majority of Democrats (50%) and no-party voters (55%).
Voters want broad support of a measure among South Dakotans before it can be approved
69%
…of all likely voters support requiring a supermajority of votes cast to approve a tax increase or new tax before it is allowed to go into effect. Strong majorities in both parties—including 77 percent of Republicans, and six in 10 Democrats (60%) and no-party voters (62%)—said they would support a policy that requires 60 percent (three-fifths) of voters to pass a new tax or tax increase.
74%
…of all likely voters support requiring a supermajority of votes to enact expensive new government programs. More than seven in 10 no-party voters (71%) and six in 10 Democrats (63%) and Republicans (59%) support requiring 60 percent (three-fifths) of voters to approve of new government programs that cost more than $10 million.
The bottom line
South Dakota voters express broad and bipartisan support for policy reforms that involve voters in the process of taxation and government spending. Overall, South Dakotans prefer policies that make it more difficult to enact new taxes and fees, tax and fee increases, or expensive government programs. Moreover, South Dakota voters support requiring a supermajority of voters to approve such changes in state fiscal policy.