Board of Regents address budget for 2025

PIERRE, S.D.(KELO)- South Dakota lawmakers are are heading into a bit of a perfect storm in just over three weeks.

Federal money is drying up, sales tax revenues are down, and a lot of new faces will be looking for answers in a tight budget year.

Like all state departments, the Board of Regents will have to get by on a smaller budget.

Executive Director Nathan Lukkes (LU-cuhs) says none of that is a surprise, and the Board of Regents is ready to do its part.

Lukkes says state colleges and universities are in a strong position after five years of freezing tuition rates, giving South Dakota schools the lowest competitive price point in the region.

A tighter budget this year is threatening a string of five straight years of freezing tuition rates at South Dakota colleges and universities.

Federal Covid relief funds are running out…and state sales tax revenues are running low.

Still, Lukkes says the system is in a strong position.

Even if tuition rates can’t be frozen again this year, Lukkes says Regents will work to maintain the system’s cost competitiveness, while delivering a quality education to students.