During a legislative hearing on January 8, 2024, Rep. Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, questioned Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling about the authority for a $20 million shooting complex being built north of Rapid City. Although the project is already under construction, some lawmakers expressed concerns about whether the department had the necessary approval to move forward.
Karr, a member of the budget committee since 2017, was unaware of any specific budget approval for the project, despite seeing line items for related projects like the Black Hills Shooting Range and Rapid City Shooting Complex in past budgets.
He and other committee members, including Rep. Linda Duba, D-Sioux Falls, and Sen. Ryan Maher, R-Isabel, were surprised to learn that the department had the spending authority for the complex…