Legislators hold second meeting on affordable workforce housing

The Legislature’s committee studying workforce housing will make recommendations at the next meeting in late September or October, its chairman said.

Rep. David Lust, R-Rapid City, told lawmakers there wouldn’t be public testimony. Lust said he would catalogue items from the two days of meetings so far and circulate the list for additional comments.

The study group is looking for ways to expand availability of affordable housing for workers in South Dakota.

“We have to have the incentives on the front end,” said Barbara Garcia, manager for the community development division of Rapid City’s municipal government.

Jed Baumann, who runs Baumann Lumber in Fort Pierre, said South Dakota should define affordable workforce housing.

He said the biggest costs are water, sewer and utilities.

Continue to full article.