Why a SD Road District is Your New Best Friend. Have you ever looked at your neighbors and thought, “I’d love to tax these people, but I don’t want the hassle of actually being ‘elected’ or ‘accountable’?” Well, pull up a chair, patriot! I’ve discovered the greatest legal “glitch” in the 605: The South Dakota…
When a private citizen makes a mistake on their taxes, the government doesn’t say, “Oh well, you thought you were doing it right.” They send a bill, they add interest, and they threaten a lien. But when a County Auditor certifies millions of dollars in unauthorized “Special Maintenance Fees” for a special district, the defense…
When the Auditor, Commissioners, and State’s Attorney collectively refuse to address documented statutory violations, the “Closed Loop” has moved from a neighborhood board to a county-level systemic failure. In South Dakota, the path forward shifts from requesting action to compelling it through higher authorities or the court system. 1. Compelling Action: The Writ of Mandamus…
In South Dakota, every county has an elected official whose job is defined by a simple, yet critical, mandate: to ensure the rule of law is upheld within that county’s borders. This official is the State’s Attorney. The role is not about politics; it is about the law. The State’s Attorney is a public prosecutor…
The table below clarifies which districts have the authority to impose a general tax (Levy) and which can use a special assessment (for new improvements). The authority to use a specific, annual “Maintenance Fee” is highly restricted. District Type General Levy Power Special Assessment Power (New Construction) Annual Maintenance Fee Authority (per SDCL 9-43-138) Road…
For decades, South Dakotans have been told that incorporating a “road district” is the only way to ensure their rural roads stay passable. But in 2026, we are discovering the hidden cost of these “mini-governments.” If you live on a small road with a few neighbors, you don’t need a Board of Trustees, a County…
To the Citizens of South Dakota and the Department of Revenue: I have just completed the annual ritual of vehicle registration, and I am left with one question: In 2026, why is this process still designed to be as tedious and frustrating as possible? Last year, we were told that new software was coming. Like…
In the post-mortem of any failed road district election, the board often points to low voter turnout as proof that the community is “satisfied” or “apathetic.” But in 2026, we must call this what it actually is: State-sponsored disenfranchisement. When residents are told by their board, their Auditor, and their State’s Attorney that their voices…
We need auditors in South Dakota! We need our sheriff’s department to be challenged on their stance that public records are not really public records. For that matter, how many other offices have refused to provide public records and we’ve found NO support from the Office of Hearing Examiners. And the only way to go…
The South Dakota public has recently become aware that many special districts have been unlawfully imposing a “special maintenance fee” with the blessing of their respective county (ies) and the blind eye of their county state’s attorney. It’s been suggested that rather than requiring all these special districts and the county to start following the…