Thursday,  Jan. 09, 2014 • Vol. 16--No. 177 • 17 of 29

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slash most state spending by 10 percent. The 2011 Legislature provided some one-time state money and froze school district property taxes at previous levels to reduce the effective cut to school districts to 6.6 percent.
• In the years since, state aid has risen by the required inflation rate, with the Legislature sometimes adding extra one-time money. Because those increases applied to the reduced spending level set in the 2011 cut, spending per pupil still has not risen to the 2010 level of $4,805.
• The inflation rate would require a 1.6 percent increase in state aid next year, but the governor last month proposed a 3 percent boost to $4,764. Daugaard said the extra spending is possible because a one-time state revenue windfall can be used to pay off some state obligations early to free up ongoing revenue next year.
• Rep. Jacqueline Sly, R-Rapid City, chair of the study committee, said she will promote the panel's proposed 3.8 percent increase to put spending back to $4,805. Going from 3 percent to 3.8 percent would cost the state about $5.3 million, and Sly said schools will compete with other programs for available money.
• "We certainly know the schools have been hit hard when we did the cuts," Sly said.
• House Republican Leader David Lust of Rapid City said a 3 percent boost in school aid will get a lot of support in the legislative session that starts Tuesday, but he doesn't know yet whether lawmakers will consider a 3.8 percent increase.
• House Democratic Leader Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton said he would support a 3.8 percent increase.
• Harrisburg Superintendent Jim Holbeck said a move from 3 to 3.8 percent would give his district an extra $140,000 in state money. That wouldn't allow him to hire more teachers to reduce class sizes, but it would cut the amount of reserves the district is using to pay for its $16.5 million general operating budget.
• "It wouldn't balance my budget, but it's better than a kick in the pants," Holbeck said.

Man wanted on 2008 rape charges pleads not guilty

• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A Pine Ridge man wanted for more than five years on child rape charges before being spotted and arrested at a sobriety checkpoint in Rapid City has pleaded not guilty.
• Twenty-three-year-old James Ladeaux faces charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual contact with a minor. He was arrested in December.
• Ladeaux could face life in prison if convicted.

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