Our GRT Plan: Ending Property Taxes in South Dakota Together
South Dakotans, I’ve heard your questions about our Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) plan to end property taxes, and I’m here to provide clear answers—because this isn’t just my plan, it’s our plan. I’m Jerry Odom, I believe in putting liberty and family first. I can present the idea, but making it a reality requires all of us coming together. Let’s address your concerns about our GRT plan, show how it protects your freedom, and explain why your involvement is crucial to ending the $954 million property tax burden (SD News Watch, 2021-22) that’s holding our families back. Together, we can do this!
Does Our GRT Plan Centralize State Control Over Counties?
Some of you are worried that our GRT plan might take financial control away from counties and centralize it at the state level. I understand that concern—liberty means local control, and I’m committed to keeping it that way. Our GRT plan replaces property taxes with a low-rate, broad-based tax on business receipts, ensuring counties still have the funds they need through a transparent distribution process. South Dakota’s $1.5 billion sales tax revenue (SD Dept of Revenue, 2023) and $109 million surplus (South Dakota Searchlight, 2023) provide a robust pool to support local needs without property taxes. Counties will maintain their ability to manage budgets for schools, roads, and services—just without the regressive tax that forces families to choose between paying taxes and affording essentials like groceries, with eggs at $6.23/dozen (Post ID: 0). But this only works if we all push for it—your voice ensures counties stay empowered, not the state.
What About Agricultural Sales Taxes Under Our GRT Plan?
Farmers, you’ve asked if the GRT’s 1.5% rate on agricultural sales will be added on top of taxes charged when your products are sold out of state. Let’s clear this up: the 1.5% GRT rate applies only to sales within South Dakota—it’s not stacked on top of out-of-state taxes, which are separate and set by those states. Our GRT plan ensures lower rates for farmers, protecting your livelihood while eliminating property taxes. South Dakota farmers are the backbone of our state, and you’re already facing rising costs—feed, labor, and more. We need your support to make this plan a reality, ensuring you’re not double-taxed and can keep farming without the taxman’s grip. Liberty means supporting our farmers, and together, we can make that happen!
How Will Our GRT Plan Handle School and Municipal Bond Issues?
You’ve asked about funding for school and municipal bond issues, which often rely on property taxes. Our GRT plan has you covered: bond issues will be funded through the GRT revenue pool, ensuring schools and municipalities have the resources they need without property taxes. For example, Hot Springs School District spends $8.3 million annually (Web ID: 10), and districts like it will be fully supported by our $1.5 billion sales tax revenue and $109 million surplus. This means no more property tax levies to fund education or infrastructure—your schools and roads stay strong, but your home stays yours. We need every South Dakotan to join this fight to ensure our communities thrive without taxing families out of their homes. Liberty means funding schools together, not through property taxes!
Will Our GRT Plan Eliminate Fire Department and Ambulance Tax Districts?
Yes, our GRT plan eliminates fire department, ambulance, and other tax districts based on real-estate values. These districts currently add to the property tax burden, hitting low-income families hardest by tying taxes to their home’s assessed value—a regressive system that’s been a burden since South Dakota’s territorial days in 1862 (April 11, 2025). Our GRT consolidates these funds into the state’s revenue pool, ensuring fire and ambulance services are fully funded without property taxes. But this change requires your involvement—by supporting our GRT plan, you’ll help end these districts and protect your community without losing your home. Liberty means fair funding, and we can achieve it together!
Does Our GRT Plan Include Corporate Taxes That Could Hurt Business Attraction?
Some of you are concerned that adding a corporate income tax could drive businesses away, given South Dakota’s low wages attract large companies. Let me be clear: our GRT plan includes no corporate income tax. South Dakota’s economic edge comes from being business-friendly, and we’re keeping it that way. The GRT is a low-rate tax on business receipts, and small businesses earning under $100K pay zero—yes, zero! Large businesses benefit from our low-wage environment and will continue to thrive, as the GRT ensures they’re not overtaxed. Progressive socialists let 163,735 small businesses close in 2020 under their policies (Yelp, Web ID: 15)—we need your support to keep South Dakota a haven for growth and liberty, not a progressive tax trap!
Will Our GRT Plan Increase Tourism Taxes?
Cities in South Dakota often add tourism taxes, and you’ve asked if our GRT plan will increase those. The answer is no—our GRT plan doesn’t raise tourism taxes; it’s a replacement for property taxes, not an addition to existing levies. Cities can maintain their tourism taxes as they see fit, but the GRT ensures we don’t need property taxes to fund local services. South Dakota’s tourism industry thrives on our low-tax environment, and our plan keeps it that way, ensuring visitors aren’t overburdened while residents get relief from the $954 million property tax burden. We need your voice to make this a reality—liberty means fair taxes for everyone, and together, we can achieve it!
Where Does Gambling Revenue Fit Into Our GRT Plan?
You’ve asked about gambling revenue in our GRT plan. It’s already part of South Dakota’s existing revenue pool! The state’s $1.5 billion sales tax revenue includes gambling proceeds, which help fund schools, services, and infrastructure without needing new taxes. Our GRT plan leverages this pool to replace property taxes—no need for a separate gambling tax. Progressive socialists might dream up new taxes to fund their pet projects, but we’re focused on using what we have to give South Dakotans real relief. Your support ensures we keep it simple and fair—liberty means working together to protect our resources!
Does Our GRT Plan Eliminate Local Control?
Finally, some worry that our GRT plan means “total control of the state” with “no local control.” That couldn’t be further from the truth! I’m a family man with a 27-year marriage, fighting for South Dakotans to live free from government overreach—local control is at the heart of my liberty-first vision. Our GRT plan ensures counties and municipalities have the funds they need through a transparent distribution process, maintaining their ability to make decisions for their communities. The difference? They’ll do it without the regressive property tax that violates the Fifth Amendment by risking foreclosure without just compensation (April 12, 2025). We need every South Dakotan to join this fight to ensure our communities stay empowered—liberty means local control, and together, we’ll make that happen!
Snarky Commentary: Progressive Socialists Posing as Americans
Progressives love centralizing power—8 million illegal crossings since 2021 (Lamborn, 2023) brought chaos like Tren de Aragua to Aurora, CO (Web ID: 1), while they tax you into the poorhouse with $954 million (SD News Watch)! They’d rather fund their woke disasters than let counties thrive—our GRT plan says no way! Liberty means local control, not socialist schemes—South Dakotans deserve better! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TaxReformSD #FreedomFirst
Join the Fight: Make Our GRT Plan a Reality
Our GRT plan is about giving South Dakotans the freedom to keep their homes, support their families, and thrive without oppressive taxes—but it can’t happen without you. I’m presenting this idea because I believe in our shared liberty, but it’s up to all of us to make it a reality. Join me at the Liberty Forum, April 19th, 2:00 PM, First Assembly of God, Rapid City—4 days away—to discuss how we’ll end the $954 million property tax burden and restore liberty for all South Dakotans! Together, we’ll build a South Dakota where freedom reigns—share if you’re with me! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TaxReformSD #FreedomFirst