Gov. Mike Rounds' State of the State address Tues., Jan. 8, will focus on the governor's proposed 2008 budget and on education funding and energy development.

Rounds will deliver his address sometime after noon (MST), when the 2008 legislative session gets under way.

The governor previewed the speech for reporters Monday.

Details were embargoed, but Rounds also said he would continue his debate with school districts over whether the state should continue to increase funding while school reserve funds continue to grow.

Rounds argued last year that schools should put less money in the bank and more into directly improving education.

The governor also said he would talk about the problem of how to value agricultural property for tax purposes and the controversial "150 percent rule." The rule means county assessors can't include in their data bases properties that increase in value more than 150 percent.

The result is, many counties don't have qualified sales on which to base assessments, but the solutions such as "production based" assessment methods are controversial.

Contact Bill Harlan at 394-8424 or at bill.harlan@rapidcityjournal.com

Listen to the speech

What: Gov. Mike Rounds State of the State address

When: Just after noon today, Tuesday, Jan. 8

Where: It will be broadcast on radio and television by South Dakota Public Broadcasting.