Budget battle

A series of articles in the Rapid City Journal looking at the 10 percent budget cuts the South Dakota Legislature faced in 2011. Key articles are bolded:

• State faces $75 million deficit next year, Gov. Rounds says (12/07/2010)

• Daugaard expected to tackle structural deficit (12/15/2010)

• Daugaard proposes $126 million in spending cuts (01/19/2011)

• Democrats propose alternative budget (01/21/2011)

• As state proposes paring back, counties may be asked to pick up more of the bill (01/23/2011)

• Daugaard pledges to eliminate $127 million structural deficit (01/25/2011)

• Taxes dominate crackerbarrel discussion (02/05/2011)

• Lawmakers battle tax exemptions (02/08/2011)

• Legislators hope to lessen blow of budget cuts (02/13/2011)

• Temporary sales tax bill fails in committee (02/22/2011)

• Senate passes bill to curb Daugaard’s education cuts (02/23/2011)

• Senate wants another look at education cuts (02/25/2011)

• Pessimistic projections on revenue still drive budget talks (03/07/2011)

• Budget looks to soften blow to Medicaid (03/10/2011)

• Lawmakers send unchanged $3.9 billion budget to governor (03/11/2011)