Codington County Sales Tax Referendum Petition Seeks Voter Decision on 0.5% Tax in Watertown
- Steve Jurrens
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Organizers in Codington County are making a final push to collect signatures for a referendum petition that would place the county’s newly approved 0.5% local sales tax on the ballot for a public vote.
In an interview with Steve Jurrens on Northeast Radio SD, petition organizer Shelly Alvine outlined the grassroots effort to refer Ordinance 83—adopted 4–1 by the Codington County Board of Commissioners in July—to local voters in November. The ordinance enacts a 0.5% county gross receipts tax under state legislative authority (SB 96) to generate revenue for a dedicated property tax reduction fund aimed at owner-occupied homes.
"There are nuances to this story—that's why we should vote on it," Alvine said during the broadcast, arguing that the tax creates an unfair financial shift across the community.
Under South Dakota law, citizens face a strict 20-day window following official publication of an ordinance to organize, draft, and gather valid signatures from 5% of registered county voters—requiring approximately 1,000 signatures.
Alvine pointed out that other South Dakota counties, including Brown County and Fall River County, chose to send similar sales tax measures directly to the voters rather than instituting the tax via commission vote.
A primary driver for the referendum effort is concern over the regressive nature of sales taxes. Under the ordinance, everyday consumer purchases—including groceries, vehicle maintenance, tires, and home repair services—will see increased sales tax rates. Alvine stressed that lower-income residents, renters, and fixed-income seniors will pay more at the register without receiving any property tax relief. Meanwhile, property tax savings under the measure scale with property values, resulting in larger proportional breaks for owners of higher-valued homes.
With the submission deadline fast approaching next week, more than 20 volunteers have been gathering signatures across Codington County. Registered county voters interested in signing the petition can visit Classroom Connections in Watertown or meet organizers at Foundation Plaza on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents can also reach Alvine directly at (605) 881-1694.
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