The federal government's $825-billion stimulus proposal could ultimately lead to millions of dollars for the state of South Dakota. But Governor Mike Rounds says not to count on that money just yet. 

So far this session, Governor Rounds has delivered two different budget proposals. 

But even with the possibility of a federal stimulus package, Rounds says for now lawmakers should focus on his current plan. 

"I would be remiss if I didn't remind everybody that they can't bail us out. What they can do is provide us with one- time assistance," said Governor Rounds. 

Rounds would like to see federal stimulus money support public works projects across the state and ensure the infrastructure is secure. However, he says state lawmakers shouldn't rely on that money to balance the budget. 

"My expectation is that, any funds coming in should not be counted on during this legislative session. And then, if it does come in, we can revise the budget accordingly," said Governor Rounds. 

He adds even if the plan is approved, it may not generate money immediately. He says it could be weeks or even months before the first stimulus dollar arrives in South Dakota. 

"There are so many limitations that have to be worked through, that they'll actually write a series of rules and they'll have to go through a review process with the rules before they can actually issue the funds out," said Rounds. 

Which is why he's encouraging legislators to roll up their sleeves and tackle the state's current budget shortfall.
Governor Rounds is also cautioning that just because the state has budget issues, it may not qualify for all of the federal stimulus money. 

Depending how the rules are written, he says, South Dakota may not be considered economically distressed. However, he says, his office is continually getting updates on the proposals, which change three or four times a day.