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County staff previews FY26 budget cycle; public safety dominates spending
Summary
Commission Administrative Officer Tom Greco gave an overview of the FY26 budget timetable and long-range trends, saying about 90% of county spending is statutorily required and that public safety and justice account for roughly half of total expenditures and about 70% of the general fund.
Tom Greco, the county commission administrative officer, briefed the Minnehaha County Commission on May 20 about the FY26 budget process, timeline and structural highlights, emphasizing that public safety and justice make up most of the county’s expenditures.
Greco outlined the calendar: budget meetings start June 10; the commission must file a provisional budget in July; joint sessions with the City of Sioux Falls will be held in August; and public budget hearings are scheduled across September. He said the FY26 budget would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Greco stressed that "90% of our spending... is statutorily required," meaning most budget items are mandated by state law. He also said public safety and justice represent a large share of spending: roughly 50% of total county expenditures across all funds and about 70% of the general fund.
Other points included the county’s reliance on property taxes and the statutory mechanism that adjusts the property-tax base by CPI (capped at 3%) and growth; he noted the department would track changes from SB 216 — legislation that places limits on assessment growth and expands certain property-tax freezes — as that law’s implementation could affect future revenue.
Greco described the county’s revenue mix and reserves: the county uses fees, intergovernmental transfers, and cash-on-hand, and the commission policy aims to maintain a 25% general-fund reserve balance. He also noted that many departmental fees have remained unchanged and said departments will evaluate fee schedules where appropriate.
The briefing was informational; commissioners will review department budget requests in June and consider staffing, public safety needs and other pressures during the budget meetings.
