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Veteran service officer urges 34% pay increase to expand county outreach
Summary
A county veteran service officer asked the commission for a 34% salary increase tied to expanded outreach and faster case turnaround, saying the change would allow the office to help more veterans rather than merely raise one position’s pay.
Speaker 1 presented the veteran service officer’s 2026 budget request and asked the commission to support a substantial increase in pay and program capacity. “This isn’t about just increasing my salary. It’s about increasing what we can deliver as a county,” Speaker 1 said, framing the ask as a means to expand outreach, improve turnaround times and provide better compensation for veterans.
The presenter said the 34% increase is “both modest and within the cost of living range,” and that operating expenses were calculated with conservative inflation estimates. Speaker 1 told commissioners they use affordable lodging and shared rides when traveling and emphasized being “resource conscious.” The speaker closed the presentation noting the request would allow the office to “help more veterans get the care and compensation they deserve.”
Commissioners and attendees responded with praise and support. Speaker 2 and others noted that state law requires a veteran service officer and that Yankton County is among the few counties in the state with a full-time VSO, calling the office’s work “life-changing” for residents who rely on those services. No formal vote on the specific pay request occurred during this session; the presentation concluded as part of the wider departmental budget review process.
Next steps: the request will be considered within the overall budget deliberations for 2026, alongside other departmental proposals and countywide revenue projections.
