SD Municipal League denies misuse of public funds

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) – The South Dakota Municipal League says it did not use public funds to support passage of a measure on this year’s ballot.  Democratic state Rep. Peggy Gibson of Huron has asked state officials to investigate whether the organization that represents cities violated state law by allegedly using taxpayer dollars to endorse a measure setting up incentive grants for large industrial projects.  But Municipal League executive director Yvonne Taylor says that it was not illegal for her to write a column in the organization’s magazine supporting passage of the measure.  Taylor says the magazine’s expenses are covered by advertising revenue, so the column was not supported by public funds from cities.  The South Dakota Democratic Party opposes passage of the incentive grant program.