Title 7 — COUNTIES

Except when otherwise expressly provided, the regular term of office for all county officers, when elected for a full term, shall commence on the first Monday in January next succeeding their election, except the office of county auditor, the term of which shall begin on the firs…

Unless otherwise provided by county charter, at primary and general elections there shall be nominated and elected in each organized county of this state county officers as follows: (1) In 1974 and each fourth year thereafter, a sheriff, county auditor, and register of deeds; (2)…

If the offices are combined pursuant to § 7-7-1.2 and a vacancy occurs in one of the combined offices, the county commission shall appoint the remaining officer to hold the newly combined position until an officer can be nominated and elected. Source: SL 1989, ch 65 .

The board of county commissioners may, by ordinance, combine two or more county offices and that one person shall be elected to, and perform the duties of, the combined offices. Source: SL 1976, ch 66 , § 1; SL 1987, ch 67 , § 4; SL 1988, ch 65 , § 2.

If a majority of those voting shall approve the question at the special election pursuant to § 7-7-1.5 or if the offices are combined pursuant to § 7-7-1.2 , an officer shall be nominated and elected at the next general election to the combined office in the same manner provided …

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7-7-1.1 , the board of county commissioners in any county may, by resolution, appoint a coroner who shall serve at the pleasure of such board. However, no board of county commissioners may exercise the authority granted pursuant to this section…

The board of county commissioners shall upon receiving a petition signed by not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, submit to the voters of the county the question whether two…

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7-7-1.1 , the board of county commissioners shall upon receiving a petition signed by not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, submit to the…

If a majority of those voting in each county shall approve the question provided in § 7-7-1.6 at the special election, an officer shall be nominated and elected at the next general election to the combined office provided for in §

The officer shall be voted upon by the voters of the counties that have resolved to combine the office. Such officer shall hold office for a term of four years commencing on the first Monday of January following the officer's election. Source: SL 1988, ch 65 , § 8; SL 2002, ch 74…

An officer shall be nominated and elected at the next general election to the combined office provided for in §

7-7-10.1 Salary for combination of two or more elected positions. 7-7-11

Salary for combination of two or more elected positions. The board of county commissioners shall establish, by resolution, the salary payable for the combination of two or more of the following county elected positions. The salary payable may not be less than the minimum salary p…

7-7-12 Salary for state's attorney--Contract for services--Prohibitions. 7-7-13

The board of county commissioners shall establish, by resolution, the salary payable to the state's attorney. The salary payable may not be less than the following schedule as based upon the most recent decennial federal census of population for counties: County Population Salary…

7-7-14 Determination of population of newly created or organized county. 7-7-15

The population of the counties of this state as the basis of salaries of county officers shall be determined by the last federal census. In all counties created or organized since the last federal census has been taken, the county commissioners shall provide for the taking of the…

7-7-16

7-7-17 Salaries as full compensation--Fees paid into treasury. 7-7-18

Except as provided in subdivision 7-8-20(11), the salaries provided in § 7-7-9.1 shall be full compensation for all services rendered by such county officials. All fees and per diem collected by any such county officials shall be paid to the county treasurer of their respective c…

7-7-19

7-7-20 Authorization for employment of deputies and clerks--Payment of compensation. 7-7-21 Appointment and removal of deputies and clerks--Oath of office and bond. 7-7-22 Powers of deputies--Responsibility of elected officer. 7-7-23 Officer receiving salary of deputy or clerk as…

The board of county commissioners shall, by resolution, establish the hours of operation for each county government office, except for the offices of the sheriff and state's attorney. The county auditor's office shall remain open, if requested by the person in charge of a school …

The chair of the board of county commissioners may close the courthouse in case of emergency or severe weather. The public shall be adequately notified. An emergency for the purpose of this section is an unforeseen occurrence or combination of circumstances that calls for immedia…

If in the judgment of the board of county commissioners it shall be deemed necessary for the prompt and accurate dispatch of business in the office of the county treasurer, county auditor, county coroner, or register of deeds that deputies or clerks be employed therein, it shall …

The officer in whose office a deputy or clerk is employed may appoint or remove a deputy or clerk at pleasure. The appointment or removal shall be by a certificate in writing, and any deputy or clerk appointed shall before entering upon the duties of office, take and subscribe th…

Such deputies are authorized to sign all papers and do all other things which the officers themselves may do respectively, and the respective officers shall be responsible for the acts of their respective deputies. Source: SL 1887, ch 10 , § 8; CL 1887, § 653; RPolC 1903, § 890; …

Any officer who receives or appropriates for the officer's own use and benefit any part of the salary allowed any deputy or clerk employed under the provisions of this title is guilty of theft. Source: SL 1887, ch 10 , § 8; SL 1890, ch 134 , § 5; RPolC 1903, § 883; SL 1917, ch 18…

County commissioners, county highway superintendents, county auditors, county treasurers, registers of deeds, state's attorneys, sheriffs, county assessing officers, and county coroners are hereby authorized to attend educational conferences, meetings, and conventions held and co…

No charge for expenses in attending any such meetings shall be a charge against the county unless authorized and approved by the county commissioners prior to convening of any such meeting. Upon the actual attendance at such meetings, conferences, or conventions, all county offic…

The boards of county commissioners may make payment to the South Dakota county commissioners' and officials' associations for the conduct of research on local government, the employment of research and other personnel, the publication of research studies, and the provision for of…

The county may create a local government records destruction board to develop record management plans for the consideration of the state records destruction board. The local board shall consist of a county commissioner, the auditor, the treasurer, and the register of deeds. Sourc…

The method of payment, whether per diem or salary, and the amount of per diem or salary shall be determined by the board of county commissioners in each county. If the per diem method is used, the county commissioners shall be allowed the per diem amount for each day they are act…

The county commissioners shall be paid traveling expenses for each mile traveled in the discharge of their official duties. For the purpose of this section, traveling expense incurred by county commissioners to attend meetings in the State of South Dakota, called for the purposes…

When the members of such commission shall act in drainage matters, the rate of compensation shall be set by the commission and the amount so received shall not be included in the compensation provided in §

When the county commissioners travel in a body, or when two or more travel together, in the same vehicle not a common carrier only one shall be paid mileage. The county commissioners may by an annual resolution, pool the mileage allowance as authorized by § 7-7-5 for each commiss…

The annual salaries of the county auditor, the county treasurer, and the register of deeds of the several counties of this state shall be regulated and fixed by the population of the several counties as shown by the last federal census. Source: SL 1917, ch 188 , § 1; RC 1919, § 5…

7-7-9.1 Salary for county treasurer, auditor and register of deeds--Salaries not to be decreased during terms of office. 7-7-10

The board of county commissioners shall establish, by resolution, the salary payable to the county treasurer, county auditor, and county register of deeds. The salary payable may not be less than the following schedule as based upon the most recent decennial federal census of pop…