Question 4: SD Wages Low, Housing Unaffordable

Eve Fisher says we live in a great state, but housing kills folks budgets; how do we bring more high-paying jobs instead of the "endless influx" of minimum wage service/factory jobs?

Patricia Stricherz:

• Legislature has been working on it by bringing in higher ed, masters programs, Homestake mine
  

Jerry Johnson:

• involved in problem at local level, it's not easy!
• good opportunities move overseas, close down branch facilities
• no easy answer
• must provide education opportunities: only 21% of our HS grads go on to university
• need to encourage opportunities in secondary ed
  

Gerry Lange:

• Finland makes college education free to kids who can get it done, views education as an investment that's worth paying for
• There is no free lunch; we have to pay for what we want in education and everything else
• Teacher salaries a disgrace; Republican majority won't listen on efforts to raise those salaries, are content to be last in the nation

Russell Olson:

• In Legislature, we've invested $8.7M in research centers across the state
• DSU is getting a new research grant
• $54M economic impact in return!
• Must invest in education
• USD's Ralph Brown questions whether SD is 50th in everything; adjust for cost of living and taxes, and we're 10th in the nation
  

Scott Parsley:

• Real money for teachers: we're still 50th in the nation.
• Real issue is creating new wealth
• We can do that with energy. Energy can be one of our greatest catalysts for new wealth.
• University research is great investment, but we need to invest also in inviting energy-related business to come here, just like Iowa and Minnesota do (you've seen the windmills there: "we have better wind, but they have better incentives")
• SD has a bad image elsewhere: folks ask Scott why SD isn't willing to invest in education, and that perception hurts us. Businesses think about that.

Mitch Fargen:

• huge proponent of R&D and higher education
• Homestake very good
• higher ed means higher paying jobs
• graduate programs are important; increase 'em
  
• K-12: "it all begins down there"