Grocery tax repeal makes the 2024 November ballot

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson announced Monday the effort to get the grocery tax repeal on the November ballot has been successful with enough verified signatures. The initiated Measure put forward by the grassroots organization “Dakotan’s For Health” would prohibit the state of South Dakota from collecting 4.2 percent sales tax on food. The measure will appear on the ballot as Initiated Measure 28. Its been over 20 years since voters in South Dakota have gotten to weigh in directly on whether or not the state should have a grocery tax, a tax it has used to help fund government since the great depression. South Dakota is one of just two states in the nation that applies a full rate of sales tax on food. Opponents argue it is a regressive tax, as everyone, rich or poor needs to purchase food. Opponents argue it is a system that works and lawmakers will need to implement new taxes to make up the losses should the measure pass.