The president of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations and the executive director for the state teachers union are sponsoring the initiated measure. It would raise the state sales tax from 4 percent to 5 percent, with the proceeds going to K-12 public education and Medicaid funding.

The measure will be placed on the November 2012 general election ballot if the group can obtain the required 15,855 valid petition signatures.

The state Legislature in March reduced per-student K-12 funding by 6.6 percent and cut reimbursements to Medicaid providers by 4.5 percent.

Associated Press