South Dakota State Auditor
| South Dakota State Auditor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $120,910 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $1,789,768 |
| Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article 4, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
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 | |
TheSouth Dakota Auditor is an elected position in theSouth Dakota state government. Theauditor is an independent officeholder who monitors how state funds are spent.[1]
Current officeholder
The current South Dakota State Auditor isRichard Sattgast (R). Sattgast assumed office in 2019.
Authority
The state auditor's office is established inArticle 4, Section 7 of theSouth 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.[2] |
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, pleaseemail us.
Elections
Article IV, Section 7 specifies that the auditor is to be elected every four years.[2]
Term limits
Article IV, Section 7 prevents any person from being elected to more than two consecutive terms as auditor.[2]
2022
- See also:South Dakota Auditor election, 2022
General election
General election for South Dakota State Auditor
IncumbentRichard Sattgast defeatedStephanie Marty andRene 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 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 329,797 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
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) | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor
IncumbentRichard Sattgast advanced from the Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Richard Sattgast (R) |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
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) | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Past elections
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 3 of thestate constitution grants thegovernor the authority to fill any vacancy in the office of auditor by appointment.[2]
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.[4] | ” |
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, pleaseemail us.
State budget
The budget for the state auditor's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $1,789,768.[5]
Compensation
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 toArticle XII, Section 3 of theSouth Dakota Constitution.
The auditor's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year.[6]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $120,910, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $97,185, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the auditor received a salary of $94,906, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $93,046 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $89,700 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $87,341 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $115,348 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the state auditor was paid an estimated$105,348 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the state auditor was paid an estimated$101,296 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the state auditor was paid an estimated$98,345 according to theCouncil 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 | ||
| 2 | J.E. Hipple | 1893 – 1897 | Republican | ||
| 3 | H.E. Mayhew | 1897 – 1899 | Republican | ||
| 4 | James D. Reeves | 1899 – 1903 | Republican | ||
| 5 | J.F. Halladay | 1903 – 1907 | Republican | ||
| 6 | John Hirning | 1907 – 1911 | Republican | ||
| 7 | Henry B. Anderson | 1911 – 1915 | Republican | ||
| 8 | J.E. Handlin | 1915 – 1919 | Republican | ||
| 9 | Jay E. Reeves | 1919 – 1923 | Republican | ||
| 10 | Edward A. Jones | 1923 – 1929 | Republican | ||
| 11 | William M. Dunn | 1929 – 1933 | Republican | ||
| 12 | George O'Neill | 1933 – 1937 |  Democratic | ||
| 13 | Raymond A. Kelly | 1937 – 1939 | Democratic | ||
| 14 | W.W. Warner | 1939 – 1945 | Republican | ||
| 15 | Steve E. Anderson | 1945 – 1950 | Republican | ||
| 16 | James O. Gilkerson | 1950 – 1951 | Republican | ||
| 17 | Lawrence E. Mayes | 1951 – 1956 | Republican | ||
| 18 | Fay A. Allbee | 1956 – 1958 | Republican | ||
| 19 | Oscar Brosz | 1958 – 1959 | Republican | ||
| 20 | Harriett Horning | 1959 – 1961 | Democratic | ||
| 21 | Betty L. Larson Casey | 1961 – 1963 | Republican | ||
| 22 | Al Hamre | 1963 – 1967 | Republican | ||
| 23 | Lloyd Jorgenson | 1967 – 1969 | Republican | ||
| 24 | Alice Kundert | 1969 – 1979 | Republican | ||
| 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
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsSouth Dakota State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1South Dakota State Auditor, "Home," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑2.02.12.22.3South 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 2025," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑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 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑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
 | State ofSouth Dakota Pierre (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections | What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2025 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures |
| Government | Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy |
- Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments
- Pages using DynamicPageList3 dplreplace parser function
- State executive office pages without qualifications sections
- State executive office pages without divisions sections
- South Dakota
- South Dakota state executive offices
- Offices of the American auditors
- Offices of state executive officials by state
