ABERDEEN - Gov. Mike Rounds says a proposal supported by South Dakota's counties for a 5-cent-per-drink tax on alcoholic beverages won't fly this year.

In remarks at a Thursday luncheon in Aberdeen, Rounds said the proposal doesn't have legislative support and will not pass. He said he is open to new ideas that don't involve a new tax.

Counties have been looking for a new source of revenue from the Legislature for years.

It looks like counties will face another year without a way to raise extra money, said Brown County Commission chairman Mike Wiese.

He said he had proposed a capital outlay fund for counties similar to funds that already exist for schools. Wiese said counties could enact a tax not to exceed $1 per $1,000 in property value and put the money into a special capital outlay fund for construction, land acquisition, facilities upgrades, equipment purchases and leases and other such expenses.

Wiese brought up the idea at the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners annual meeting this fall. It didn't have statewide support, so it's not worth trying to push it in Pierre, he said.

Another luncheon speaker, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry president David Owen, said many businesses want to loosen the state's liquor laws. The state Chamber doesn't want the number of liquor licenses that are allowed to be capped by population, as is now the case.

Owen said his organization's top issue is attracting workers. Finding workers with the right skills can be difficult, he said.

Economic development advocates need to stop talking about jobs and start promoting careers, according to Owen. South Dakota has plenty of careers to keep and attract people, he said.