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Why is South Dakota making it so hard (and expensive) to give them our money?
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…
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Why Three Isn’t Enough: The Case for Five-Member Special District Boards
In many of South Dakota’s rural neighborhoods, the most direct form of government we encounter is the special purpose district—whether it’s for roads, water, or sanitation. Under current state laws, these districts often operate with a small board of just three trustees. While a three-person board might seem efficient on paper, it has become a…
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The Anchor of the Closed Loop: A Portrait of Administrative Neglect
In the hierarchy of South Dakota county government, the State’s Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer. They are the sworn gatekeeper of the law, tasked with ensuring that both citizens and government boards play by the rules found in the South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL). But what happens when the gatekeeper decides the law…
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The Case for Repeal: Abolishing South Dakota’s Shadow Governments
In South Dakota, we pride ourselves on local control. However, there is a dark side to “local control” when it manifests as Special Purpose Districts (Road, Sanitary, Irrigation). These districts were designed to give neighbors a way to manage shared infrastructure, but the laws governing them—specifically SDCL 31-12A—have created a constitutional crisis in our rural…
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My Q&A with a legal sounding board
This is part of a conversation I had, trying to determine my next moves and what I should publish here. I decided to publish a large portion of our conversation. A couple of sidenotes: The clerk took the filing and said she would immediately check with the judge. As she continued the filing process, I/we…
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The County Auditor’s Role: Gatekeeper of an Unauthorized “Special Maintenance Fee”?
A fundamental principle of government in any County is that local officials must adhere to state statutes. When it comes to road districts, South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) Chapter 31-12A outlines the powers available for funding maintenance. This chapter provides for specific tools, such as tax levies or special assessments, which are subject to public…