Revenue secretary Jim Terwilliger to take over as Gov. Kristi Noem's top budget official

Gov. Kristi Noem has tapped a longtime state budget guru to lead her budget office.

The governor's office announced Monday that South Dakota Revenue Secretary Jim Terwilliger will leave that post to takeover as Commissioner of the Bureau of Finance and Management on April 1.

“Jim knows our state’s finances inside and out and will help us guarantee that South Dakota remains fiscally responsible for years to come,” Noem said in a statement announcing the pick. “Through his years of service at both the Department of Revenue and the Bureau of Finance and Management, he has proven his commitment to low taxes, stable sources of revenue, and fiscal predictability and responsibility.”

Terwilliger has served as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue since Noem took office as governor in January 2019. Previously, he spent 12 years with the Bureau of Finance and Management serving as deputy commissioner and state economist under both former Governors Dennis Daugaard and Mike Rounds.

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He replaces interim BFM Commissioner Jeff Partridge, the former Rapid City lawmaker who temporarily filled in following the departure of longtime BFM Commissioner Liza Clark in November.

“In South Dakota, we always use common sense when it comes to our budgeting and financial practices that focus on sustainability,” Terwilliger said. “I’m honored to serve Governor Noem and South Dakota in this capacity and look forward to assuring our state finances remain on rock solid footing well into the future.”

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Jim Terwilliger to take over as Gov. Kristi Noem's top budget official