FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press Office
Dakotans for Health
605-610-8146
At Last, Voters to Crunch the Numbers: South Dakota’s Grocery Tax Heads to the Ballot After Legislative Limbo
May 14, 2024
Sioux Falls, SD...Yesterday, the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office officially certified the citizen-initiated measure seeking to repeal the state's sales tax on groceries. Titled Initiated Measure 28 (IM28), this crucial initiative is slated for inclusion on the November 5th ballot, marking a significant step toward addressing the pressing issue of food affordability in our state.
On April 24th, Dakotans for Health, TakeItBack, and the South Dakota Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, leading advocates for this cause, submitted over 25,000 signatures to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office (SDSOS) for validation and certification. The SDSOS conducted a meticulous random sample of petition signatures, with an outstanding 86.55% deemed valid, surpassing the national average of 76%. Out of this process, a remarkable 22,315 signatures were validated, exceeding the required 17,508 signatures by 4,807.
"This certification brings us one step closer to rectifying a long-standing injustice – the state taxation of groceries," stated Rick Weiland, official sponsor of the ballot measure. "When tens of thousands of our fellow South Dakotans, including a significant proportion of children, struggle with food insecurity, it's incumbent upon us to act. With 61% of South Dakotans supporting the repeal of this regressive tax, we are confident that IM28 will garner widespread support this November," Weiland emphasized.
B.J. Motley, President of the South Dakota Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, and campaign co-chair, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the grocery tax on working-class families. "The repeal of the state's tax on groceries is an imperative step toward alleviating the financial strain faced by South Dakota's hardworking families, many of whom spend a substantial portion of their income on basic necessities," Motley remarked. "Despite repeated failures by the state legislature to address this issue, we are committed to ensuring that the people have the opportunity to make their voices heard and to eliminate this unjust tax," Motley affirmed.
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About Dakotans for Health:
Dakotans for Health is a grassroots organization focused on healthcare and protecting the democratic process. In 2024, our petitions to restore abortion rights in South Dakota and repeal the regressive state sales tax on groceries were certified and approved by the Secretary of State. Vote YES on Amendment G and IM 28! The organization was also instrumental in the successful 2022 campaign to expand Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health is dedicated to ensuring all South Dakotans have access to the care they need, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they have.
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