Watertown Chamber to Host 2026 Ballot Measure Forum on South Dakota Amendments, Codington County Tax

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee will host an informational forum on the 2026 General Election Ballot Measures on Wednesday, Oct. 21, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the Lake Area Technical College campus.

The event is designed to give Codington County voters, business leaders, and residents a clear, objective overview of the statewide ballot measures and the county‑level tax ordinance appearing on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot. The forum is free and open to the public, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the LATC Student Center.

Two-Part Forum Format

The forum will be moderated by District 5 Senator Glen Vilhauer and divided into two sessions:

Part 1: Statewide Ballot Measures Overview

Featured speakers include South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen and State Representative Erik Muckey, who will provide a bipartisan, informational breakdown of the four statewide initiated measures and constitutional amendments. The Session includes a public Q&A.

Part 2: Codington County Ordinance 83 Panel

Panelists were not finalized at the time of the release. The discussion will focus on Ordinance 83, the referred 0.5% county sales and gross receipts tax, including potential property‑tax relief, county funding needs, retail impacts, and fiscal accountability.

Statewide Constitutional Amendments

The forum will cover the following measures:

·         Amendment I – Medicaid Expansion Federal Funding Requirement: Conditions South Dakota’s Medicaid expansion requirement on the federal government maintaining at least 90% funding.

·         Amendment J – Citizenship Requirement for Voting: Clarifies that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in any South Dakota election.

·         Amendment K – Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund: Creates a constitutional trust fund for unclaimed property proceeds, with investment rules and revenue directed toward state operations.

·         Amendment L – 60% Supermajority for Constitutional Amendments Raises the approval threshold for future constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%.

Local Measure: Codington County Ordinance 83

Voters will decide whether to enact a 0.5% countywide sales and gross receipts tax, with revenue dedicated to a property‑tax reduction fund.

Public Participation

Community members and business owners may submit questions in advance by emailing Tim@watertownsd.com with the subject line “Ballot Measure Question.” More information is available at watertownsd.com or by calling the Chamber at 605‑886‑5814.

Northeast Radio SD will also be on location to livestream the event on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Kick, Twitch, and Instagram.