Some Aberdeen lawmakers say they wonder whether talk about closing one of South Dakota's six state-run
universities will be revived once economic stimulus money runs out.

State Representative Paul Dennert of Columbia says he thinks South Dakota likely will get serious in talking about whether it needs six public universities in 2012.  Harvey Jewett of Aberdeen, who is on the Board of Regents, says there has been talk in Pierre about closing Northern -- and that some legislators seem to have something personal against the school.  But Jewett says there's no immediate.

State Senator Al Novstrup of Aberdeen says things could change when stimulus money runs out and things like education and roads wind up on the chopping block because of significant budget shortfalls.

If state government needs more income, Dennert says it most likely will raise the state tax to 5 percent, which he says would bring in about $150 million a year.