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Mitchell SEA reviews 2025 financials; previews 2026 board projects and Dakota Riptide debt service
Summary
Staff presented year-to-date collections and room-night comparisons and outlined a preliminary 2026 budget containing $35,000 in board projects (including $30,000 Dakota Riptide debt service) and $150,000 for sports authority promotion.
Mitchell Sports and Events Authority staff presented year-to-date financials, room-night comparisons and a preliminary listing of budget items for 2026 during the meeting (date not specified). The board approved the financial report.
Aaron reported that once pending checks are cut the authority’s current 2025 expenses will total $107,400, leaving an available SEA fund balance of $87,250 for the remaining three meetings of 2025. He said year-to-date collections through the reporting period totaled $230,423, representing 115,212 room nights. Compared with 2024 collections of $209,797.50 (104,899 room nights), Mitchell was up 0.9% (842 room nights). Aaron also gave multi-year room-night comparisons: 2023 up 3.2% (3,056 room nights), 2022 down 1.2% (1,122 room nights), 2021 up 2.7% and 2019 up 3.1%.
Regarding board projects and the draft 2026 budget, staff said the starting proposal includes $35,000 under board projects (about $30,000 for Dakota Riptide debt service and $5,000 for the PlayEasy subscription), plus $150,000 set aside for sports authority promotion. Aaron said the $30,000 Dakota Riptide debt-service payment will be finalized and the check cut at the Oct. 6 city council meeting. He reported an unobligated cash balance for Bid 4 of $285,600.50.
Board members asked questions about room-night drivers (sports tournaments, the soybean plant workforce and hybrid projects) and noted recent local events that contributed to hotel stays: a 52-team soccer tournament with about 650 players over one weekend, extra swim tournaments and a new soccer tournament held in spring. Aaron said staffing and facility capacity limit which RFPs Mitchell can accept; some RFPs require more hotel rooms or larger facility seating than the city can provide.
A motion to approve the financial report was made and seconded; the board voted in favor on a voice vote.
Less critical details: staff noted two establishments remained past due on collections at the time of the report and that the revenue/expense report available in members’ packets had been updated that morning. The board confirmed its next meeting will likely be in January (after holidays) and discussed keeping meetings at the 3 p.m. start time and the option to include a Zoom feed for remote participation.
