Implementation Strategies

April 20, 2025
Seal SD Liberty

SEAL South Dakota: Implementation Strategies Document Plan 1

Our Pathways to Eliminate Property Tax

This document outlines the three clear, legitimate routes to achieve property tax elimination in South Dakota. These strategies empower the people while keeping schools and local services fully funded, under the protection of law.

Option 1: Legislative Initiative with a Legislative Champion

Overview: Work directly through the South Dakota Legislature, building relationships with lawmakers who will champion the cause and carry the bill to amend the state constitution and enact the GRT law.

Key Steps:

  1. Identify and secure legislative champions in both the House and Senate.
  2. Draft legislation to:
    • Eliminate property tax.
    • Establish the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) framework.
    • Allocate funds as per the plan (schools, local services, infrastructure).
    • Create SD-DOGE for oversight.
  3. Build coalition support among legislators and community leaders.
  4. Public hearings and committee reviews.
  5. Pass the bill through both chambers with required majorities.
  6. Refer the constitutional amendment to the voters for approval.

Advantages:

  • Efficient if political will is strong.
  • Maintains legislative process and statehouse momentum.
  • Can move quickly with the right leadership.

Considerations:

  • Requires supermajority in both chambers.
  • Relies on political dynamics and timing.

Option 2: Citizen-Driven Constitutional Amendment

Overview: Empower South Dakotans to bypass the legislature through a grassroots signature drive, placing the constitutional amendment directly on the ballot.

Key Steps:

  1. Draft citizen-led constitutional amendment language.
  2. File with the Secretary of State to begin the petition process.
  3. Organize statewide signature gathering.
    • Requirement: ~35,000 valid signatures (5% of votes cast for governor in last election).
  4. Educate the public and build grassroots support.
  5. Submit signatures by the state deadline.
  6. Campaign for passage at the ballot box.

Advantages:

  • Pure people-powered route.
  • Builds massive grassroots momentum.
  • Avoids legislative gridlock.

Considerations:

  • Requires strong organization and volunteer network.
  • Timeline depends on ballot deadlines and verification.

Option 3: Hybrid Strategy (Legislation + Constitutional Safeguards)

Overview: Run both a legislative strategy and a citizen-driven constitutional amendment in parallel. Pass legislation to create the GRT and administrative framework, while simultaneously placing constitutional safeguards before the voters.

Key Steps:

  1. Introduce and pass enabling legislation:
    • Establish GRT structure.
    • Create SD-DOGE for ongoing oversight.
    • Set clear transition timelines (2-year implementation).
  2. Simultaneously run a citizen petition drive for:
    • Locking in the property tax elimination.
    • Capping GRT rate at 2.5%.
    • Protecting funding allocations (schools, services).
    • Preventing reinstatement of property tax without public vote.
  3. Bring both to the voters for final approval.
  4. Leverage legislative action to build public trust and media momentum.

Advantages:

  • Maximizes flexibility and public buy-in.
  • Keeps pressure on lawmakers while empowering the people.
  • Builds the strongest legal and political foundation.

Considerations:

  • Requires coordination between legislative and grassroots teams.
  • Demands clear communication to the public.

Conclusion: Empowering the People to Choose the Path Forward

Each route leads to the same goal: ✅ End property tax.
✅ Protect our homes and schools.
✅ Cut waste and make government efficient.

By preparing all three options, we remain flexible, responsive, and people-powered. The citizens of South Dakota deserve to choose the path that works best for our future.

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