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Daugaard Vetoes Lowering Electric Cooperatives’ Tax Burden

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed a measure that would have slightly reduced the amount of tax burden on rural electric companies.

Daugaard vetoed the bill Friday. He explained in a letter that the exemption would have given special preference to a specific type of business, eroding the foundation of South Dakota’s broad sales tax base.

Sen. Corey Brown of Gettysburg sponsored the proposal, which had overwhelming legislative support. It would have rolled back a recent administrative decision on how state tax for electric cooperatives is determined by excluding municipal taxes from calculations of state tax liability.

That would have lowered the burden on the rural electric companies.

Brown says he will push lawmakers to override the veto when they return to Pierre at the end of the month.