South Dakota State Auditor
| South Dakota State Auditor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $97,185 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $1,630,402 |
| Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article 4, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
South Dakota State Auditor
Richard Sattgast | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of School and Public Lands • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The South Dakota Auditor is an elected position in the South Dakota state government. The auditor is an independent officeholder who monitors how state funds are spent.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Richard Sattgast (R) . He was elected to the office in November 2018. Sattgast previously served as the state auditor from 2003 to 2011.[2]
Authority
The state auditor's office is established in Article 4, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution.
Article IV, Section 7:
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands.[3] |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the South Dakota State Auditor has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Elections
Article IV, Section 7 specifies that the auditor is to be elected every four years.[3]
2022
- See also: South Dakota Auditor election, 2022
General election
General election for South Dakota State Auditor
Incumbent Richard Sattgast defeated Stephanie Marty and Rene Meyer in the general election for South Dakota State Auditor on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Richard Sattgast (R) | 62.7 | 206,633 |
 | Stephanie Marty (D) | 31.9 | 105,163 | |
| Rene Meyer (L) | 5.5 | 18,001 | |
| Total votes: 329,797 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic convention
Democratic convention for South Dakota State Auditor
Stephanie Marty advanced from the Democratic convention for South Dakota State Auditor on July 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Stephanie Marty (D) |
| ||||
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Republican convention
Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor
Incumbent Richard Sattgast advanced from the Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Richard Sattgast (R) |
| ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Auditor
Rene Meyer advanced from the Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Auditor on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Rene Meyer (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
- See also: South Dakota Auditor election, 2018
General election
General election for South Dakota State Auditor
Richard Sattgast defeated Tom Cool in the general election for South Dakota State Auditor on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Richard Sattgast (R) | 64.0 | 202,055 |
 | Tom Cool (D) | 36.0 | 113,628 | |
| Total votes: 315,683 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
Republican incumbent Steve Barnett won re-election on November 4, 2014.[4]
| South Dakota Auditor, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Steve Barnett Incumbent |
79.9% | 191,755 | |
| Libertarian | Kurt Evans | 20.1% | 48,103 | |
| Total Votes | 239,858 | |||
| Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of South Dakota Auditor, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Steve Barnett won election to the office of South Dakota Auditor. He defeated Julie Bartling (D) in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Rich Sattgast won re-election to the office of South Dakota Auditor. He ran unopposed in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Rich Sattgast won election to the office of South Dakota Auditor. He defeated Dick Butler (D) in the general election.
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Term limits
Article IV, Section 7 prevents any person from being elected to more than two consecutive terms as auditor.[3]
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution grants the governor the authority to fill any vacancy in the office of auditor by appointment.[3]
Duties
As of February 2021, stated duties of the auditor included:[1]
| “ | To preaudit all claims against the state, issue warrants, administer state employee payroll, record and monitor all fund balances and all fund transfers; to reconcile fund balances and submit numerous reports to agencies on the state's financial condition as set forth by the rules of the State Auditor, the State Board of Finance, and of other state agencies; to deposit with the Internal Revenue Service, the social security and federal income taxes withheld from employees of the state of South Dakota and the state universities in a proper and timely manner; to audit and correct all wage data and social security records of the employees of the state of South Dakota, state universities, and 740 governmental subdivisions, including counties, cities, school districts, townships and water districts; and, to serve as a repository for W-2s for state employees.[5] | ” |
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the South Dakota State Auditor has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: South Dakota state budget and finances
The budget for the state auditor's office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $1,630,402.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: SD Codified L § 3-8-2.1 (2014)
The auditor's annual compensation is set by Title 3, Chapter 8, Section 2 (§ 3-8-2.1) of the South Dakota Codified Laws and it may not be raised or diminished during a term in office, pursuant to Article XII, Section 3 of the South Dakota Constitution.
The auditor's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $97,185, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the auditor received a salary of $94,906, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $93,046 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $87,341 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $115,348 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the state auditor was paid an estimated $105,348 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the state auditor was paid an estimated $101,296 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the state auditor was paid an estimated $98,345 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
State Auditors
There have been 27 South Dakota State Auditors since 1889. Of the 27 officeholders, 24 were Republicans and 3 were Democrast. Richard Sattgast has served two non-consecutive terms.[19]
| List of officeholders from 1889-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | L.C. Taylor | 1889 – 1893 |  Republican
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| 2 | J.E. Hipple | 1893 – 1897 | Republican
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| 3 | H.E. Mayhew | 1897 – 1899 | Republican
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| 4 | James D. Reeves | 1899 – 1903 | Republican
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| 5 | J.F. Halladay | 1903 – 1907 | Republican
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| 6 | John Hirning | 1907 – 1911 | Republican
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| 7 | Henry B. Anderson | 1911 – 1915 | Republican
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| 8 | J.E. Handlin | 1915 – 1919 | Republican
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| 9 | Jay E. Reeves | 1919 – 1923 | Republican
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| 10 | Edward A. Jones | 1923 – 1929 | Republican
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| 11 | William M. Dunn | 1929 – 1933 | Republican
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| 12 | George O'Neill | 1933 – 1937 |  Democratic
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| 13 | Raymond A. Kelly | 1937 – 1939 | Democratic
| ||
| 14 | W.W. Warner | 1939 – 1945 | Republican
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| 15 | Steve E. Anderson | 1945 – 1950 | Republican
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| 16 | James O. Gilkerson | 1950 – 1951 | Republican
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| 17 | Lawrence E. Mayes | 1951 – 1956 | Republican
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| 18 | Fay A. Allbee | 1956 – 1958 | Republican
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| 19 | Oscar Brosz | 1958 – 1959 | Republican
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| 20 | Harriett Horning | 1959 – 1961 | Democratic
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| 21 | Betty L. Larson Casey | 1961 – 1963 | Republican
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| 22 | Al Hamre | 1963 – 1967 | Republican
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| 23 | Lloyd Jorgenson | 1967 – 1969 | Republican
| ||
| 24 | Alice Kundert | 1969 – 1979 | Republican
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| 25 | Vernon L. Larson | 1979 – 2003 | Republican
| ||
| 26 | Richard L. Sattgast | 2003 – 2011 | Republican
| ||
| 27 | Steve Barnett | 2011 – 2019 | Republican
| ||
| 28 | Richard L. Sattgast | 2019 – present | Republican
| ||
Recent news
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Contact information
South Dakota State Auditor
Office of the State Auditor
500 E Capitol Ave., Ste 209
Pierre, SD 57501
Tel: (605) 773-3341
Fax: (605) 773-5929
See also
| South Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 South Dakota State Auditor, "Home," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota State Auditor, "About Rich," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2014 General Election Results - Statewide Races," accessed January 25, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 3 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: Chapter 08 - Compensation of Officers and Employees § 3-8-2.1: Adjustment of salaries of constitutional officers and judges," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
- ↑ South Dakota State Auditor, "Past Auditors," accessed February 2, 2021
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