Governor Prepares to Give Budget Speech

     PIERRE, S.D (AP) - Gov. Dennis Daugaard is giving the South
Dakota Legislature his proposals for state spending in the budget
year that begins next July.
     The governor and his staff have not released details of his
budget proposal before he gives his annual budget speech to
lawmakers Tuesday.
     But they have said that with tax collections rising more than
expected, the outlook is much brighter than it was last winter when
Daugaard and the Legislature cut spending in many programs to fix a
projected $127 million shortfall.
     The governor has said he hopes that next year's budget can
provide more state financial aid to schools, give pay raises to
state employees and increase payments to nursing homes and other
facilities that provide medical care to poor people.