Press "Enter" to skip to content

South Dakota GDP Up, Education Funding Down

Last updated on 2011.11.29

Paraphrasing Black Elk: How can businesses grow fat while schools go lean?

Governor Dennis Daugaard is pleased to see South Dakota's Gross Domestic Product rose 4.28% in 2010. If we factor in inflation, we find South Dakota never saw a year-spanning recession: measuring in 2005 dollars, we've seen GDP increase every year of the last four.

"It's interesting to note that during the recessionary time period of 2007-2010, South Dakota had the third highest percentage increase in GDP in the nation," says the governor. (Again, DD is measuring in "real" dollars; in chained 2005 dollars, we were fourth highest---still impressive!)

It remains even more interesting to note that with $1.6 billion more real dollars jingling in our pockets, South Dakota decided it had to spend $44 million less on education.

I posed a similar question last November about the 2009 state GDP numbers: Shouldn't a growing economy mean more resources available for public services? Doesn't Reaganomics (Ryanomics? Noemonomics?) assert that economic growth puts more money in the public coffer?

Someone is making lots of money in South Dakota, but that money is not trickling down to our kindergartners and their teachers.

5 Comments

  1. Guy 2011.06.09

    Corey,

    I have no way of verifying this, so, instead of asserting an opinion, I will pose this question: with GDP and revenue up has the state increased spending for economic development programs? If the answer is "yes," I think that would be a huge misplaced priority for government responsibility.

  2. Steve Sibson 2011.06.09

    "Someone is making lots of money in South Dakota, but that money is not trickling down to our kindergartners and their teachers."

    Cory, the money is trickling down to our kindergarners and their ever increasing number of single welfare moms. Look to the Department of Social Services if you want to see huge budget increases. Then look at the Board of Regents budget for even more increases.

  3. Guy 2011.06.09

    Steve,

    Well then, that is where some of the increases need to go.

  4. Steve Sibson 2011.06.09

    Guy,
    So those who can't afford food for their kids, to pay rent, or pay for healthcare can sit in front of their big screen TVs, smoking cigarettes, while on their cell phones looking for the nights party?

    The big-business special interests who are getting free research at the Board of Regents like it when people who don't work can still buy big screen TVs, cigarettes and cell phone service.

  5. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.06.09

    Now, Steve, you know that's a boogeyman, just like the welfare queen. Let's take down the big-business special interests first, who do much more damage with their corporate welfare and PAC influence.

Comments are closed.