Commissioners approve multiple 2025 budget supplements after public hearing

Lincoln County commissioners on March 25 voted to adopt four budget supplements to the county's 2025 budget following a public hearing held pursuant to SDCL 7-21-22.

The board approved increases that include a $204,000 supplement to TIF debt service for TIF No. 8, a $6,000 supplement for the coroner budget to cover fees and transports, a $67,393.75 supplement to other economic assistance, and a $33,000 supplement to the sheriff's budget. The supplements were adopted to provide budget authority for expenditures tied to resolutions the board previously passed.

County staff explained that some payments authorized in December 2024 were not processed before year-end and therefore the county needed 2025 budget authority to complete those transactions. At the public hearing, a Fairview resident, Linda Montgomery, said she was opposed to an unnamed supplement until she understood the purpose and why the county was already adding money earlier in the budget cycle; county staff clarified that the previously referenced $70,000 was related to bonding for the Justice Center and not to the budget supplements being considered.

After staff answered questions, the board moved and seconded adoption of the supplements and approved them by roll call. The auditor and county staff will proceed to process the authorized payments under the restored budget authority.

Key details: - Legal basis cited: SDCL 7-21-22 (public hearing requirement for adopting budget supplements). - Public comment: One resident asked for clarification about overlapping budget actions and was given an explanation distinguishing bond authorizations from supplemental budget authority. - Vote: motion carried by roll call with all commissioners voting yes.

The action restores budget authority for checks and commitments authorized by the board in resolutions passed in December 2024.