The Codington County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 30 approved a series of end‑of‑year budget transfers and supplements, authorized grant applications from opioid‑settlement and community‑service funds, and adopted a 2026 monthly wage‑rate scale.

Brenda, the county auditor, told commissioners the commissioner contingency account held $37,003.86 and outlined several overages that needed coverage, including roughly $6,005.10 for the commissioners’ budget, $7,348.24 for the veteran service office after an unanticipated retirement, a trivial senior‑aid overage of 4¢, and a larger court‑appointed attorney shortfall. "The rest, we will take care of in the formal budget hearing," Brenda said as she reviewed the numbers. Commissioners approved transfers from contingency to cover the immediate shortfalls.

The board approved a general‑fund supplement to cover court‑appointed attorney expenses (auditor cited an amount in the $76,000 range) and a separate E911 supplement tied to higher‑than‑anticipated surcharge receipts. For the E911 item the chair recused from the vote; the commission moved to approve the supplement and noted it functions largely as a pass‑through of surcharge revenue.

Commissioners also approved applications and budget supplements tied to outside funds: a request to apply for up to $5,000 in South Dakota opioid‑settlement resource funding to provide phones and transportation for people entering a new pretrial services program, a $44,009.41 community‑service (CASUP) grant supplement, and a $7,005.72 ERA2 supplement. "This is part of the South Dakota opioid fund settlements," the staff presenter said, adding the opioid funds would address transportation and phone barriers for the pretrial population.

The board voted to approve year‑end claims, including salary claims reported at $888,046.53 and a roll‑up of other vendor invoices and jail contractor payments included in the packet. Brenda noted specific vendor payouts and adjustments made to claims totals before the vote.

On personnel costs, commissioners adopted the 2026 monthly wage‑rate scale after prior discussion of hourly rates. Commissioner Gable moved to approve the monthly rate schedule; McElhaney seconded and the motion passed.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of Dec. 30 agenda: carried (aye).
- Approval of Dec. 23 minutes: carried (aye).
- Commissioner contingency transfers: carried (aye).
- General‑fund supplement (court‑appointed attorney): carried (aye).
- E911 budget supplement: carried (chair recused; motion carried).
- Rodville Township culvert reimbursement ($1,560 county share): carried (see separate article).
- Opioid‑settlement resource grant application (up to $5,000): carried (aye).
- CASUP grant supplement ($44,009.41): carried (aye).
- ERA2 supplement ($7,005.72): carried (aye).
- 2026 monthly wage‑rate scale: carried (aye).
- Salary and year‑end claims: carried (aye).

Why it matters: The transfers and supplements close out budget shortfalls and authorize outside grant funding that county staff say will be used to expand pretrial services and cover unavoidable year‑end costs. Approving the monthly wage scale completes a personnel step begun earlier when hourly rates were adjusted.

What’s next: Several items—most notably final vendor payments and the revised budget language for the commercial lease—will return to the board in the coming weeks when staff provide amended drafts or when the auditor presents final reconciliations.