South Dakota lawmakers have approved a balanced $7.5 billion state budget, an increase of 2.4% from the budget adopted last year. The budget includes $3.1 billion in federal funding, a 0.35% decrease from last year, and includes the equivalent of 14,121.3 full-time employees, a rise of 26 from last winter’s budget bill. The 'big three' budget priorities, education, state employees and health care providers who treat Medicaid patients, received 1.4%. Critics criticized the budget for its size, support for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and dependence on federal funding. If lawmakers increased “big three’ funding by inflation, it would have cost the state roughly another $27 million.