South Dakota families are struggling to find affordable homes right now. We have a housing infrastructure loan fund that was built to help solve that problem — to help communities develop the housing our teachers, nurses, farmworkers, and young families need. That fund matters to people in my community. So I was alarmed to learn that on July 14, the Rules Review Committee voted 4-2 to allow up to $30 million from that housing fund to be loaned out for airport expansion projects in Rapid City and Sioux Falls instead.
I understand airports matter to our economy. But a housing fund should do one thing: fund housing. These loans tie up $15 million per airport at 2% interest for 20 years. That's two decades where that money can't be used for the housing shortage we're facing right now. Repayment promises sound fine on paper, but families who need a place to live today can't wait 20 years for that money to cycle back. And when the Rules Review Committee can redirect dedicated housing funds without a full legislative vote, that's the kind of decision-making that leaves everyday South Dakotans out of the room entirely.
I'm asking you to introduce or support legislation that prohibits the housing infrastructure loan fund from being used for anything other than residential housing development, and that requires the full Legislature to approve any future reallocation of dedicated housing funds.
South Dakota families deserve a housing fund that actually builds homes — please act to put that money back where it belongs.
