Brookings Bureau: Brookings County Sets Sept. 2 Hearing on $29 Million 2026 Budget
In Brief: Proposed spending plan includes major allocations for roads, public safety, and health services
By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News
The Brookings County Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 9 a.m. to review the county’s proposed $29 million provisional budget for 2026.
The hearing will take place at the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St., Suite 310. Residents may attend in person or send a representative to comment on the proposed allocations before the commission adopts a final budget Sept. 23.
The proposed budget outlines funding for general government, public safety, roads and bridges, health services, cultural programs, and debt service. It also includes allocations for specialized funds such as opioid settlement programs, rural infrastructure, and domestic abuse services.
The general fund totals $19.6 million, with the largest share—$7.3 million—earmarked for highways and bridges. Public safety spending, including the sheriff’s office, jail operations, and emergency services, is budgeted at $6.4 million.
Other notable appropriations include $663,572 for health and welfare programs, $456,954 for culture and recreation, and $556,252 for conservation of natural resources. The county building fund is budgeted at $436,133, and debt service at $508,900.
The budget is funded primarily through $16.1 million in property taxes, along with state and federal revenues, licenses, fees, and other local sources. The county’s property tax levy is set at $3.87 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.
Brookings County Finance Officer Lori Schultz said the hearing will provide “a full and complete discussion” of the budget’s purposes, objectives, and appropriations.