Mitchell council restores most 2025 subsidy levels, cuts some after review

Mitchell City Council members agreed Oct. 6 to use last year's subsidy levels as a baseline for the 2026 proposed budget, then considered each organization's request line by line and approved or reduced awards based on application details and council discussion.

Council members said the baseline approach would simplify decisions and give recipients predictability. "My thought is having a starting number of what last year's is," Councilmember Jeff said when proposing the approach, and the council voted to start from 2025 levels before adjustments.

From that starting point the council made a number of specific changes after hearing representatives from several organizations and reviewing follow-up information. Notable outcomes included: - Area Community Theater (ACT): councilmembers moved to cut ACT's subsidy to $0 after discussion that projects tied to last year's funding were not completed as the council understood; the council approved the reduction. - Cornerstone Career & Learning Center: the council declined to add new recurring subsidies and did not approve a new subsidy request; Cornerstone representatives were told the council is generally not taking on new recurring subsidies in 2026. - Dakota Counseling Institute: the council approved $13,000 to continue 24/7 crisis services and the program's "firehouse model" of crisis beds; Michelle Carpenter, Dakota Counseling, described measurable outcomes and quarterly reporting of metrics. - Dakota Artland (Dakota Heartland): the council approved maintaining $25,000 after hearing regional economic-development arguments from David Labor and assurances some work is spent in Mitchell. - Exchange Club fireworks: the council increased the city contribution to $15,660 after Exchange Club treasurer Aaron Mueller described a $6,000 vendor price increase; the motion passed. - Horseman Sports / youth rodeo: after testimony about attendance and a plan to develop permanent bucking chutes and a second arena, the council approved $36,773 for equipment (bucking chutes prioritized); the vote was close (5-3 roll call). - Mitchell Area Housing Improvement Inc.: the council voted to reduce the line item to $0 for now and said the organization could request funds later when projects arise. - Mitchell Municipal Band: the council approved $14,500 to cover added insurance and trailer costs. - Prehistoric Indian Village: the council approved raising the award to $25,000; board members said the society will match funds from private gifts. - Mitchell Main Street & Beyond: councilmembers approved increasing the subsidy to $50,000 and discussed waiving city event fees so the nonprofit does not pay fees for city services for events it runs. - Safe Place: the council approved $15,000 (reduced from the prior-year request). - Salvation Army: the organization's request was reviewed; no additional funding was listed in the minutes beyond the prior-year status of $0 in this draft sequence.

Council members repeatedly emphasized accountability. "If we are holding them to something that their previous board president said and they didn't do it, are we going to do the same thing for everybody?" asked one councilmember during debate, prompting discussion about requiring invoices or proof of completed work before releasing funds.

The council opened the door for one-time capital needs in some cases (for example, rodeo infrastructure) but reiterated the earlier direction to avoid adding new recurring subsidies in 2026.

Ending: Council members said the decisions here are the council's initial budget directions and that nothing is final until the formal budget vote this fall. Several councilmembers asked staff to include the approved subsidy numbers in the formal budget document and to ensure quarterly reporting/verification for awards tied to capital or measurable outcomes.