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Governor's mansion luxury upgrades: Argus Leader exposes taxpayers as Noem's real Santa
More than $60,000 has been spent redecorating the Governor's Residence since Kristi Noem moved in nearly three years ago, and thousands more for the installation of a sauna.
That's according to an Argus Leader review of expense receipts associated with renovations and redecorating of various facilities within the South Dakota Capitol Complex in Pierre going back to Jan. 5, 2019, the day Noem was inaugurated as South Dakota's 33rd governor.
And that has critics accusing the first-term Republican governor of lavishly spending taxpayer dollars on her personal interests, while officials in the governor's office say spending on and at the mansion is in line with prior administrations.
The bulk of the expenses reflected in 158 pages of receipts and invoices provided to a third party government oversight advocacy group by the governor's office and later obtained by the Argus Leader are related to modifications — both structural and aesthetic — within gubernatorial facilities in the second floor of the Capitol building, including the governor's office and various staff suites, as well as infrastructure upgrades like fencing and a new elevator at the Governor's Residence.
But the documents also show almost $60,500 has been spent redecorating Noem's state-owned and state-funded Pierre residence, including more than $13,000 for luxury rugs and tens of thousands worth of furniture, lamps and chandeliers. The cost of installing a sauna, a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath, was not included in the expense documents released by Noem's office. . . .
That's according to an Argus Leader review of expense receipts associated with renovations and redecorating of various facilities within the South Dakota Capitol Complex in Pierre going back to Jan. 5, 2019, the day Noem was inaugurated as South Dakota's 33rd governor.
And that has critics accusing the first-term Republican governor of lavishly spending taxpayer dollars on her personal interests, while officials in the governor's office say spending on and at the mansion is in line with prior administrations.
The bulk of the expenses reflected in 158 pages of receipts and invoices provided to a third party government oversight advocacy group by the governor's office and later obtained by the Argus Leader are related to modifications — both structural and aesthetic — within gubernatorial facilities in the second floor of the Capitol building, including the governor's office and various staff suites, as well as infrastructure upgrades like fencing and a new elevator at the Governor's Residence.
But the documents also show almost $60,500 has been spent redecorating Noem's state-owned and state-funded Pierre residence, including more than $13,000 for luxury rugs and tens of thousands worth of furniture, lamps and chandeliers. The cost of installing a sauna, a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath, was not included in the expense documents released by Noem's office. . . .
Read more: https://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2021/11/governors-mansion-luxury-upgrades-argus-leader-exposes-taxpayers-as-noems-real-santa-.html