South Dakota Governor's '07 Budget Features Funding for Research Centers, Higher Ed

Increased funding for research centers, a laptop program, and investments in higher education were highlighted in South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds' fiscal year 2007 budget address last month.

While the governor’s FY07 recommendation for Economic Development is $3.4 million, only a 3 percent increase over the budgeted FY06 amount, the Division of Research and Commerce would receive $4.8 million -- an increase of 37 percent over last year. Included in this amount is a $1 million increase to fund research centers under the 2010 Initiative and $280,000 to fund Centers for Entrepreneurship.

Gov. Rounds touted the 2010 Initiative, stating that over the last two years, the state’s $2.8 million investment into four research centers had a $21.4 million economic impact within the state. The Centers for Entrepreneurship, a new initiative proposed by the governor, would facilitate public and private partnerships to develop programs and activities that support young business leaders.

The governor also is asking for $13 million for the first year of a three-year, $39 million program to provide laptop computers to all high school students. He also requested an additional $1.8 million to expand three S&T related doctoral programs within South Dakota universities: the doctor of science and information systems program at Dakota State University; a joint-institution program within the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the University of South Dakota leading to a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering; and, a doctoral program in energy engineering at South Dakota State.

Gov. Rounds' FY07 Budget Report is available at: http://www.state.sd.us/bfm/budget/rec07/