South Dakota State Cement Enterprise Sales Trust Fund, Amendment L (2010)

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South Dakota State Cement Enterprise Sales Trust Fund, Amendment L appeared on the November 2, 2010 ballot in the state of South Dakota as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment where it was defeated.

The measure, also known as HJR 1004, called for repealing the automatic annual transfer of $12 million from the trust fund to the state general fund. Additionally, the measure would have transferred $11 million from the trust fund to the state general fund in FY 2012, $10 million in FY 2013, $9 million in FY 2014 and $8 million in FY 2015. In years thereafter, the legislature would have been allowed to transfer up to 4 percent of the trust funds value to the general fund.

Election results

See also: 2010 ballot measure election results

Amendment L (State Cement Enterprise Sales)
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		167,594	59.45%
Yes		114,321	40.55%

Source: South Dakota Secretary of State. Results were certified by the Secretary of State on November 9, 2010.

Text of measure

Title

An Amendment to Article XIII of the South Dakota Constitution relating to the trust fund created from the proceeds of the state cement enterprise sales.

Summary

Constitutional Amendment L changes annual distribution amounts made from the cement plant trust fund to the State’s general fund. The cement plant trust fund holds the proceeds from the sale of the state cement plant to benefit South Dakota citizens. The proposed amendment reduces the current $12 million mandatory annual transfer to $8 million over a four year period. Thereafter, the mandatory transfer is eliminated and the Legislature may transfer up to four percent of the trust fund to the State’s general fund as long as the transfers do not cause the trust fund to fall below its original principal amount.
The amendment also eliminates a distribution from the trust fund to support education.

A vote “Yes” is for changing the annual distributions from the cement plant trust fund. A vote “No” is against the constitutional amendment.

Constitutional changes

See also: South Dakota Amendment L (2010), constitutional text changes

The measure amended Sections 20 and 21 of Article XIII of the South Dakota Constitution.

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of South Dakota ballot measures, 2010

Support

• The Argus Leader (Sioux Falls) supported Amendment L. The newspaper's editorial cited their support over the reduced allocation of $4 million dollars that would be made to the trust fund. The newspaper further argued that trust funds under the state's management must be protected in tough economic times..
• The Daily Republic (Mitchell) supported Amendment L. In an editorial, the board said, "We back Amendment L. We believe all caution should be made to keep state savings accounts strong and viable, and feel that limiting the annual payout from the cement plant trust fund is a step in that direction."
• The Rapid City Journal supported Amendment L. The editorial board of one of South Dakota's largest newspapers argued that voter approval of Amendment L would prevent unnecessary withdrawals of the trust fund.

Opposition

There was no opposition from editorial boards towards Measure L.

Polls

See also: Polls, 2010 ballot measures

• A October 20-21, 2010 poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research for KELOLAND-TV and the Argus Leader revealed that of the 800 polled registered voters, 27% supported Amendment L, while 38% were opposed and 35% remained undecided..

Legend      Position is ahead and at or over 50%     Position is ahead or tied, but under 50%

Date of Poll	Pollster	In favor	Opposed	Undecided	Number polled
Oct. 20-21, 2010	Mason-Dixon Polling & Research	27%	38%	35%	800

Path to the ballot

See also: South Dakota legislatively-referred constitutional amendments

Section 1 of Article XXIII of the South Dakota Constitution stated that the South Dakota State Legislature could refer a proposed amendment to the state's voters through a majority vote.

The House approved the measure for the ballot with a vote of 56 to 14 on February 22, 2010. The Senate approved the measure 28 to 6 on March 8. The bill was signed by the House Speaker and Senate President on March 10, after which the measure was referred to the secretary of state for placement on the statewide ballot.

See also

Suggest a link

• South Dakota 2010 ballot measures
• 2010 ballot measures

Articles

• South Dakotans say no to medical marijuana and yes to smoking ban
• 2010 official ballot titles set by South Dakota Attorney General

External links

• South Dakota 2010 Voter Pamphlet
• HJR 1004 summary
• HJR 1004 full text

Additional reading

• KDLT,"What is Amendment L?," October 29, 2010
• NECN,"South Dakota ballot measures," October 25, 2010