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Commissioners weigh deep cuts to road projects and equipment needs amid 2019-level budget constraints
Summary
Yankton County budget presentations showed a roughly $1.2 million reduction in annual projects from last year, large cuts to asphalt mill/overlay work and pressure to prioritize equipment replacements such as graders and loaders amid rising costs and lower revenues.
County department heads told commissioners the county’s proposed 2026 budgets reflect significant constraints that often return spending levels to around 2019 figures despite much higher current costs.
Speaker 11 (highway/roads) said annual projects were slashed and the 2026 plan has a roughly $1.2 million decrease in total expenditures from last year. He highlighted cuts to asphalt mill and overlay lines (prior usage in 2024 reported as $912,000) and noted a need to rework multi‑year plans: “That’s the other thing with, cutting all the budget. Well, my 5 year plan, I pretty much gotta start all over.”
Equipment replacement remained a central concern. The highway presenter said a new motor grader costs about $400,000; the current machine might trade-in for about $175,000 now but would drop in residual value if deferred. Commissioners discussed balancing trade-offs between buying now (higher prices) versus risking bigger repair bills later.
Presenters and commissioners also raised maintenance alternatives that could partially offset reductions: smaller-scale ditch regrading, inventory gravel usage and re-prioritizing projects. No final appropriations were decided at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to analyze where to make cuts and what might be deferred until revenues improve.
Next steps: staff to return with detailed budget options and impacts on roadwork schedules and capital equipment replacement timing.
