Salute to Sound Structure

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Salute to Sound Structure

By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
June 12, 2026

A few times a year, folks in Pierre wake up for morning walks through Hilger's Gulch to a sea of Old Glory that seems to have magically appeared. Each time, we are reminded to be grateful for our freedom, the Founders who had the foresight to enshrine it in our Constitution, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect it. This weekend for Flag Day, we celebrate the symbol of the Stars and Stripes that unite our country as one.

Although our colonists were united against the British, at the very beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, they were not fighting under one flag. It wasn't until two years later, on June 14, that Congress affirmed the 13 stripes and 13 stars "representing a new constellation." It is said that the Founders carefully chose this term "constellation" to send a message of political unity. Just like each individual star in a constellation works to form a unified and recognizable structure, so did the 13 stars on the sea of blue in the original flag. Today of course there are 50 stars, but the structure remains.

Our Founders also designed our tax structure. They envisioned limited, localized, and uniform revenue collection that restricted our federal government's power to tax citizens directly. Government works best when it is closest to the people, and in South Dakota, our tax structure still reflects that.

Working South Dakotans keep more of their money than almost any other state because we do not have a state income tax. Any suggestion to completely turn our tax system on its head should be met with skepticism that it could result in a state income tax. And state government does not keep a dime of property taxes - all money paid by the property taxpayer goes to the local governments - closest to the people - to support their safety, infrastructure, and schools. We have done good work in the last two years to cut property taxes, and we did it in way that doesn't hurt the ability of local governments to fund essential services.

Our citizen-legislature of 105 people come to Pierre each year with varying priorities, representing their own communities and voters. But each leave for home at the end of session with a balanced state budget. In fact, our state government spends $1,000 less per capita than any other state in our region. We have the second lowest total tax burden per-capita in the nation. We don't overtax. We don't overspend. And we've set an example for the nation of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.

In South Dakota, we don't spend money we don't have or allocate one-time dollars for ongoing expenses. Every previous Governor and all those who served in our state House and Senate are unified by the 137 years of balanced budgets. Every former legislator that has voted to pass a budget is bonded together by their determination to solve problems and their focus on keeping our great state moving forward.

I am grateful for the Founders who went before us - the ones who created our stars and stripes and defended the freedom it stands for. As long as I am Governor, I will continue to do everything I can to keep our state strong, safe, and free under those same freedoms and principles so many have fought to defend.

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