- Fund controlled by governor may soon require legislative oversight (Black Hills Pioneer, 2/22/2024)
- In response to recent controversy over a fund controlled exclusively by the Governor’s Office, a committee of lawmakers endorsed a bill that would increase oversight of spending. The South Dakota Senate Commerce and Energy Committee approved the bill with a 7-1 vote, and it now proceeds to the full Senate. The amended legislation requires the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to provide quarterly reports to legislative committees, disclosing details of each award or grant from the fund, aiming to address concerns about transparency and accountability in fund allocation.
- Lawmakers question audit detailing issues with DSS claims system (SDPB Radio, 8/1/2024)
- Lawmakers on the Government Operations and Audit Committee are questioning an audit that revealed issues with the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) claims system, which allowed a former employee to allegedly embezzle nearly $2 million over 13 years. The audit found a “material weakness” in the controls over payments of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, with 53 out of 60 claims lacking evidence that two people had authorized payments, as is required. Incorrectly set permissions allowed some staff to both request and approve claims. The problem was not caught in a previous audit in 2020. DSS has since implemented additional safeguards, but some lawmakers remain skeptical about whether the audit uncovered the root issue and are planning a special meeting in October to investigate further.
- Some lawmakers upset after Noem awards millions to project they refused to pay for (South Dakota Searchlight, 9/12/2024)
- South Dakota lawmakers expressed frustration after Governor Kristi Noem allocated $13.5 million from the state’s Future Fund to a shooting range project they had repeatedly declined to finance. Legislators criticized the decision, stating that they were unaware of the spending and had previously rejected state budget funding for the range, questioning its necessity and prioritizing other infrastructure needs. The bipartisan discontent stems from concerns over transparency and oversight of the Future Fund, which Noem controls, as lawmakers push for more legislative input on its expenditures.
