Brookings council adopts 2025 budget, consolidated fee schedule and 10‑year CIP

Brookings City Council adopted the 2025 budget and associated financial resolutions during its Oct. 22 meeting.

The 2025 budget totals roughly $73 million, a 3.9% increase over the 2024 adopted budget, with a general‑fund balance of $21,860,776. Staff highlighted that approximately two‑thirds of general‑fund revenues come from property and sales taxes and that most general‑fund spending is concentrated in police, public works and parks. The budget adds two positions—an associate planner and a master mechanic—and includes CIP priorities such as street maintenance, a new inclusive play project at Fishback Soccer Complex, public‑works office renovation and skate‑park improvements.

Finance staff unveiled an interactive online budget book that allows users to drill into departmental budgets, staffing and the CIP, a transparency tool the staff expects to publish on the city website. Council approved the consolidated fee schedule that included increases and restructures for airport fuel flowage fees, building permits, library out‑of‑county fees, police body‑camera request fees and other routine adjustments tied to cost recovery.

Council also approved a balanced 10‑year capital improvement plan relying primarily on second‑penny sales tax for capital projects and debt service. During discussion, councilmembers praised the transparency of the interactive budget materials and noted that staff had been mindful in benchmarking elected‑official pay and other items.

The council adopted the budget and the related fee and CIP resolutions by roll call. Staff said the online budget book and the consolidated fee schedule will be available on the city website and that departments will proceed with implementation of approved programs and capital projects.