Woodbury County supervisors confront $2.6 million shortfall; agree to keep several improvement requests in budget

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors reviewed a projected Fiscal Year 2026 shortfall and voted to keep several department improvement requests in the draft budget while looking for offsets to avoid cuts to core services.

County Auditor Michelle Scaff told the board that “after removing all of the improvement requests, last week, our fund 1 deficit is $1,820,434,” and that the county’s total shortfall across several funds was about $2,641,865. Scaff said officials had identified about $104,000 that could be removed from basic funds and that the county had published maximum levy figures the public has begun receiving.

The discussion focused on whether to fund personnel requests that departments said were needed to preserve services. Supervisors approved several items individually, including the treasurer’s seven improvement requests and a communications-center training position that county leaders said is critical to 911/dispatch operations.

Why it matters: The board signaled a preference to avoid deauthorizing positions where possible and instead to seek temporary offsets — including unspent fiscal‑year 2025 funds, a possible hiring freeze on selected vacancies and a potential one‑time transfer — to reduce the structural deficit. Supervisors emphasized the consequences for rural services and public safety if revenue or reserves fall further.

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