High special land sales impact property taxes and development costs

Recently land sales indicate an astounding rise in South Central S. D. But, what impact in the local areas who do not benefit from the sales but are saddled with potential services for the invaders.

If rural development tourism, Pheasant hunting, prairie dog hunting, and calf/cattle feeding projects begin what will be the tax on the local township owners and OPERATORS of the land?

In the past a cattle feeding opeation had the local township road graded and graveled and that was paid out of township funds (tax) The recent building of an alcohol plant at Mitchell area in the rural area pojected just under a million dollar project to build a road heavy enough for the corn hauling. If the rural area have bed, booze, breakfast places that tax is not credited to the touwnship where it is situated.

The tax should go to where the burden falls. A sales tax on the real estate? Or a return where the tax is collected? Our County has hired an economic development person. Where will ecomomic development occur and will their operation contribute to a burden on the local township?. Township business is mainly ROADS. In our township about $800 is returned for the roads out of pheasant or hunting funds. What about the investment persons who bids the land beyond its farming or ranching ability. Maybe a use tax on land. Money retained in the township where it is located to be spent for roads or schools?

The rural folks are paying city sales tax at half the sales tax the State does. Eventually the cities will swarm with jogging around circles, pools to wiggle in or event centers, sports centers that collect more and more dollars. The Roman Empire idea of bread and circus will pacify the citizens. It is occuring in Rapid City and Soo Falls and even Mitchell. Who will bell the cats> Who will raise the food, or will big Box farms (Super Wall'Marts) and ranches be owned by foreign bonds

Farm and Home Show, Presho 2006

A pre-spring arrival in the smaller towns on the S. Dak. prairie is the Farm and Home Show. At Presho this was held Saturday in the community building. The basketball bank boards were out of the way and plastic film protected the floor. The bleacher seats were folded.

Entering, one was faced with not the ticket tackeer but an order counter for lunch. The menu was Indian tacos for the waciu though later I noted no preponderance of Lakota (Sioux Indians) or reps of the South.

Yes, it was a promotional idea to set the pleasant juices flowing from the tummy to the brain stem. Anticipation of food and pleasant thoughts to follow in touring the display booth was the strategy.

About fifty display booths catering art work, quilts, gutters, newspapers, telephones, health products, bank service and abortion, but no snake oil or hucksters. Town businesses were represented like home heating,bank, telephone, but the one I had to visit was the reps of the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks.

The Department has been criticised for allowing it's wardens (conservation officers) to enter private land without notice or approval of the land owner. I think maybe a warden that sees a blaze of red and a gun carrying person in the field is suspect and must "check him out".

The two wardens were neat in appearance and friendly. One was wearing a pistol holder though I do not know if it was filled. Reminded me of the Brit's Bobby who carried the stick but no weapon. His word and uniform was sufficient, " I sey ole chap". I had to question one of the men, (no female wardens) about the possible Avian flu introduction by the ducks, geese, pelican migratory invasion. Not noted as yet as most of the migratory patterns are in the European and Asiatic area where spotted outbreaks are noted. Would be a disaster for the flu to spread to the pheasant population for South Dakota hunters and the income for the S.D. Department.

Entertainment? That was a cracker barrel session by local legislators.
S. Dak. legislature is awaiting the approval of the executive Governor of the abolishing of abortion in S.. Dak. I look at the pickle barrel question of the abortion question. Is it the majority wish of the citizens in the legislature or is it a legal question. A news release notes that a million dollars has been promised to carry the challenge to the Supreme Court of the U.S. I don't know if the million dollar baby is a registered lobbyist or is it illegal to promise dollars for a non-veto by the Governor.

Jim Wooster a lad of Reliance and a former resident of Lyman county was the entertainer His auctioneer type of patter of his stories were bite and bit. Hardly any young people around to listen as silver haired, baseball capped men and bonnet free moms listened and clapped approval. The Wooster farm boys left the rural area a long ago. The example they set is still the pattern of the farm kids, cut and go east, west, north, or south but any direction, some up some down , but go.
Wosterized the grandmothers with songs of their childhood days via the prairie harp.

Of naught for money, but glad they were here to see and ponder the smaller slice of life in Presho.
LH