The Pennington County Board of Commissioners voted 4–1 on Tuesday to increase county support for the Rapid City Public Library to a $320,000 package for 2026, using the library’s anticipated reserves and the county contingency fund to cover the difference.

The action came after an extended public comment period and weeks of behind‑the‑scenes negotiating. Dozens of residents — including volunteers, parents and nonprofit advocates — urged commissioners to preserve weekend hours and programs they said benefit working families.

"We are counting on you to lead the way, so once again, we could have confidence in our elections," said Cindy Cook during public comment, also referencing separate civic concerns; other speakers focused directly on the library’s services. Lee Strubinger of the John T. Vikkovich Foundation told commissioners the reduction would remove roughly half of weekend library hours and disproportionately affect working families who rely on Sundays. "We would encourage the collaborative contract process to continue to help keep the Rapid City Public Library strong into the future," he said.

Commission staff explained the technical finances: the county levy portion for libraries in 2026 was budgeted at roughly $81,000, and a library escrow/reserve was estimated at about $170,000–$197,000 (the exact reserve level depends on final tax collections). Commissioners adopted a motion to apply the levy amount plus anticipated reserves and to draw the balance from contingency to reach a $320,000 county contribution for 2026. The motion to set the funding package passed 4–1; the dissenting commissioner voiced concern about long‑term ramifications for the general fund.

Commissioners and staff said the action is temporary and that the county will return to negotiations in 2026 to clarify levy boundaries, municipal opt‑outs and which taxpayers are subject to the library levy. Commissioners noted municipal agreements and Box Elder’s participation remain points of discussion and said they will explore whether a ballot measure is needed to clarify voter intent or levy coverage in a future election.

The board also asked library leadership and county staff to provide the commission with regular reports on services and usage, and to include clearer accounting of which municipalities are using library services but not participating in the levy. Commissioners said they expect additional discussions about whether library support should move into the general fund or remain a separate county levy in future budget cycles.

The commission did not schedule a ballot measure at Tuesday’s meeting; commissioners said they will pursue further conversations early next year to determine the long‑term funding approach.