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 deficits and be a disaster for our cities and communities. But one thing is clear: your analysis is based on fear, not facts.

IM28 is about justice and relief for South Dakota families. Right now, too many hard-working people in this state are struggling to make a living. Feeding South Dakota reports that 106,000 of our fellow citizens, including one in six children, suffer from food insecurity. They do not know where their next meal will come from.

This is not just an abstract statistic; it is a moral crisis. IM28 (Their petition collection is shown above in a photo from Dakotans For Health.) Facebook page) A crucial step to reduce this burden is the abolition of the state sales tax on food.

The South Dakota Municipal League is hiding this from you: The official Financial note from the Legislative Research Council (LRC) — the one required by law and the one up for vote — clearly states that municipalities can continue to collect their food tax. This is not a pipe dream, but the law.

The LRC assumes that the abolition of the state food tax Save taxpayers $123.9 million annually, money that goes directly into the pockets of working families who spend up to 30% of their household income on food and need it most.

We must not lose sight of what is truly important. The South Dakota Municipal League talks about potholes and park maintenance, and those are important, but local households will not be affected by IM28. However, there is an urgent 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 power to impose taxes on prepared foods and other products. They will not be left out in the cold, as the Municipal League claims.

We have a choice between supporting our families and clinging to an outdated system that taxes the very food they rely on. IM28 is not a catastrophe — it’s a lifeline. It’s a common sense measure designed to put money back where it belongs: into the hands of the people who need it most, by removing the government tax on the food those people need to feed their families.

Don’t let fear and misinformation guide your vote. IM28 is a necessary change and the right thing for the people of South Dakota. Together, we can ensure that no family has to 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 that expanded Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health is committed to ensuring that 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.