$15M for Ellsworth Air Force Base still airborne at South Dakota Capitol

Special spending measure seen as endorsement of $2B expansion of Black Hills-area military base

Sen. Mike Rounds shakes hands with Ellsworth Air Force Base Col. Derek Oakley during an October meeting of the Legislature’s Select Committee on Legislative Relationships. (Joe Sneve / The Dakota Scout)

The South Dakota Senate Monday approved a bill to transfer $15 million to support infrastructure projects tied to Ellsworth Air Force Base's expansion.

However, they rejected a companion measure that would have redirected contractors' excise tax collections from the base.

Senate Bill 6, which transfers funds from the South Dakota Housing Infrastructure Authority to the newly created Ellsworth Support and Development Fund, passed 29-6 after adopting an amendment proposed by Sen. Helene Duhamel, R-Rapid City.