Refuting misinformation on IM28: Setting the record straight for South Dakota families on food and grocery tax repeal.

The South Dakota Municipal League is spreading misleading information about IM28, and we need to set the record straight. The league claims this measure will lead to budget shortfalls and be a disaster for our cities and towns. But let’s be clear: their analysis is based on fear, not facts.

IM28 is about fairness and relief for South Dakota families. Right now, too many hardworking people in this state are struggling to put food on the table. Feeding South Dakota reports that 106,000 of our fellow citizens, including 1 in 6 children, are food insecure. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

That’s not just an abstract statistic; it’s a moral crisis. IM28 (its petition-gathering effort is shown above in a photo from the Dakotans For Health Facebook page) is a crucial step toward easing that burden by repealing the state’s sales tax on food.

Here’s what the South Dakota Municipal League isn’t telling you: The official Fiscal Note from the Legislative Research Council (LRC) — the one required by law and the one that will be on the ballot — clearly states that municipalities will still be able to collect their tax on food. This isn’t some pipe dream; it would be the law.

The LRC projects that removing the state’s tax on food would save taxpayers $123.9 million annually, money that will go directly into the pockets of working families who spend upwards of 30% of their household income on food and need it the most.

Let’s not lose sight of what really matters. The South Dakota Municipal League talks about potholes and park maintenance, and those are important, but local budgets will not be impacted by IM28. But there is a pressing need to ensure our families can afford the food they need to survive.

The idea that IM28 will decimate local budgets is not only misleading but also irresponsible. Local governments will continue to have the authority to collect taxes on prepared food and other items. They won’t be left out in the cold as the Municipal League suggests.

This is a choice between supporting our families or clinging to an outdated system that taxes the very food that sustains them. IM28 is not a disaster — it’s a lifeline. It’s a common-sense measure designed to put money back where it belongs: in the hands of the people who need it the most by removing the state’s tax on the food they need to feed their families.

Don’t let fear and misinformation guide your vote. IM28 is a necessary change, and it’s the right thing to do for the people of South Dakota. Together, we can ensure that no family must choose between paying the bills and feeding their children.

Dakotans for Health is a grassroots organization focused on health care and protecting the democratic process. The organization was instrumental in the successful 2022 campaign to expand Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health is dedicated to ensuring all South Dakotans have access to the care they need, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they have.