South Dakota Libraries threatened as new budgets plummet – Rapid City South Dakota news, weather, sports

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Local librarians are giving their reactions to Governor Noem’s proposed budget, which would cut nearly $2.5 million from the State Library. On December 3rd, 2024, Governor Noem presented her annual budget address to the state, in which she recommends a 1.25% increase on what she called “The Big 3,” including healthcare providers, state employees, and schools. However, she did not touch on the spending cuts to the State Library that are mentioned in her full budget report. Librarians in western South Dakota say that these cuts would have devastating impacts on the services they provide.

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“We will be the only state whose library is reduced to just a Braille and Talking Books Program and doesn’t provide support for the libraries within that state,” said Doris Mertz, School Chair for the South Dakota Library Association and Librarian for the Custer School District, “I don’t understand doing that in a year where it’s being emphasized that education is a priority.”

In a letter addressed to the South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations, Mertz stated that the Governor’s proposed budget would cut most online-based programs at public libraries. These include the World Book Encyclopedia, ProQuest Research Library, and online catalogs for over 50 South Dakota libraries. Mertz also expressed concern over the proposed Education Savings Account, calling it “a program which would eventually undermine our public school system.”

Funding to the State Library does not directly impact funding for individual libraries but does impact the services they provide. Beyond online services, libraries could lose summer reading programs aimed at keeping student retention. They could also lose the inter-library loan system, which allows libraries to exchange books with others around the country when they aren’t in their catalog.

“The state library is the backbone of all of our libraries in South Dakota that give equitable access to information to all South Dakotans,” said Sarah Myers, Library Director for the Custer County Library, “Through the training and support they’ve given me, I’ve been able to be a better steward to my Custer County community.”

If approved by legislatures, 2026 would have the smallest budget for South Dakota’s libraries in public record, which dates back to 2005. Since Kristi Noem took office, her recommended budget for the State Library was always equivalent to the previous year’s budget. This year’s recommended reductions would be ten times larger than the second largest reduction, which was recommended by former Governor Daugaard for the 2012 fiscal year.

The budget proposal issued by Governor Noem is not necessarily the budget that will be enacted. The next step in the budgeting process will be discussions by the South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations (JCA), who will hear from the public during agency budget hearings. These hearings are expected to start when the legislative session starts on January 14th, where the JCA will determine line-by-line changes that need to be made to the budget. This year’s JCA consists of the following State Senators: Ernie Otten (District 6), Mark Lapka (District 23), John Carley (District 29), Red Dawn Foster (District 27), Taffy Howard (District 34), Paul Miskimins (District 20), Glen Vilhauer (District 5), Mykala Voita (District 21), Larry Zikmund (District 14).

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The South Dakota Legislature has until March 10th to vote on a finalized budget. The Governor can then accept or veto the budget on April 31. The FY 2026 budget’s final version will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

For statistics on South Dakota’s State Library budget over the years, see the spreadsheet below.

Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows.