YANKTON — County commissioners and residents spent a public meeting discussing ways to close a multi-million-dollar gap in Yankton County’s draft budget, with officials urging public input before a September finalization and raising the possibility of an opt-out levy for road and bridge funding.

Commissioners framed the problem bluntly: “the only options are reduce costs or increase revenue,” a commissioner said, asking the public whether they preferred deeper cuts or higher taxes. Officials said the budget as proposed would be unsustainable in the coming years if no action is taken.

A county official said the highway department has already cut nearly $2,000,000 from its budget, which will delay planned road resurfacing, and noted further cuts could include $1,000,000 more from that department or a $30,000 reduction in the sheriff’s budget that could eliminate one deputy. “We just gotta work harder and smarter and figure this thing out,” a commissioner said.

Residents questioned specific line items. Lynette, a Listerville resident, asked what a $500,000 contingency for the commission covers; staff explained contingency funds are used for end-of-year transfers to prevent departments from ending the year in the red. Another resident asked why the county funds some projects that appear to benefit only parts of the county (Lesterville, Irene, Gayville), and was told nonprofits present requests during the budget process and the commission decides donations after presentations.

Officials and residents also discussed revenue ideas. Commissioners proposed moving idle funds into higher-yield accounts, reviewing discretionary assessment formulas that may leave about $21,000,000 of property not fully assessed, and pursuing economic development to expand the tax base. One commissioner said adjusting assessment schedules could accelerate collection of property tax revenue, noting even a few hundred thousand dollars would help.

State Senator Lauren Nelson, in attendance, urged that when the state imposes new mandates on counties a fiscal note should accompany legislation so local costs are apparent. Nelson said that while the state has been reported to hold roughly $68 million in reserves, only about $16 million of that is truly discretionary state money after unclaimed property and other designations are removed. “Once legislation’s put into place, it is so hard to take it out,” she said, urging incremental fixes and clearer fiscal accounting.

Commissioners set a near-term schedule: another meeting before the Sept. 16 deadline for the final budget and an Oct. 1 reference date were discussed. Officials asked residents to bring specific proposals and recommended the county solicit public input on any opt-out proposal for road and bridge funding, noting that city nonparticipation could leave rural voters shouldering the levy.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn; Commissioner Wanda moved to adjourn, Commissioner Dan seconded, and the chair called the meeting closed.

Votes at a glance

Adjourn motion — Moved by Wanda; seconded by Dan; outcome: approved. (Recorded as a general voice vote; individual tallies not recorded in the transcript.)