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Audubon County supervisors hold pay steady amid taxpayer outcry over FY26 spending and $800,000 HVAC overrun
Summary
Audubon County supervisors on March 18 approved a zero-percent pay increase for supervisors and defended elements of the FY26 budget after local taxpayers pressed the board over rising costs, including an $800,000-plus courthouse HVAC cost overrun and questioned use of TIF funds.
The Audubon County Board of Supervisors on March 18 voted to set supervisors' FY26 wages at a zero-percent increase and faced sustained questions from residents about budget choices and major project overruns.
Chairman Heath Hansen opened the meeting at 9:06 a.m. and the board approved the day's agenda. Miranda Bills presented the Recorder's proposed FY26 budget and noted recording fees have not risen since 1984; Bills said state bills have been introduced that could change those fees. Chairman Hansen said he has been speaking with the sheriff and Secondary Roads to look for budget reductions.
A group of concerned taxpayers met with supervisors at about 9:30 a.m. Residents including Tom Muhr, Chris Christensen and others pressed the board on why the county is “continuously spending more” and asked for identification of waste to reduce debt. Muhr specifically highlighted the Courthouse HVAC project as an example of a program that exceeded its budget; the minutes state the HVAC project is "currently $800,000+ over the original amount." Auditor Lisa Frederiksen told the group she had requested bids at three levels to compare costs but was told no.
Frederiksen also explained limits on tax increases and how the state-regulated formula for the General Basic account works; she described the HF718 mailing taxpayers received that shows reasons for the proposed rates. On the question of reserve or redevelopment financing, Frederiksen said TIF funds are restricted to qualifying rural projects and that the Courthouse HVAC did not qualify for TIF use.
On compensation, the county Compensation Board had recommended a 2.5% increase for supervisors; the board instead approved a resolution (Resolution 2025-14) setting supervisors' salaries and the supervisor-chair stipend at the current levels, after a motion by Kent Grabill and second by Don Mosinski. The minutes record the resolution passed with "AYES: Hansen, Grabill, Mosinski; NAYS: None."
The board said it will meet with Conservation staff in the coming weeks to review Littlefield Park spending and cabin revenue projections and asked Engineer Mitch Rydl to research whether some Secondary Roads work could be contracted out to reduce equipment and labor costs.
The board adjourned at 1:25 p.m.
Votes and formal actions at the meeting included approval of the Supervisor FY26 wage settings (motion: Grabill; second: Mosinski; outcome: approved) and adoption of Resolution 2025-14 reflecting those approved levels.
