Lincoln County Commission July 14, 2026

The July 14, 2026 regular meeting of the Lincoln County Commission (South Dakota) included a presentation of McGrath Human Resources Group’s compensation and benefits study. The study reviewed county pay against comparable organizations and recommended a 3% adjustment to the non-bargaining salary schedule, along with some position and pay-grade changes; no adoption vote was taken. A public commenter estimated the study cost at about $29,000, though county staff were unsure of the exact amount. During the 2027 budget work session, commissioners discussed multiple department requests, including $45,000 for annual aerial imagery and about $20,000 for GIS support to transition to Next Generation 911. A regional EMS funding request was also presented, but the amount and funding arrangement remain unresolved. Commissioners discussed a proposed 0.5% county gross receipts and use tax as a potential source of property-tax relief; no action was taken on the proposal.

Building and grounds presented a list of purchases for the new justice center totaling $183,522.45, including floor-cleaning equipment and grounds and snow-removal machinery; the mowing equipment would use a Sourcewell purchasing contract. Commissioners debated whether these costs should be covered by the justice-center project budget rather than the department’s 2027 budget, but did not approve the purchase list. Budget adjustments also included $15,000 for sheriff’s-office equipment and $10,000 for jail equipment related to the new Taser contract. In a separate discussion about the old courthouse, commissioners approved a motion to issue an RFP for architectural services to assess potential options; members also raised the possibility of grant funding, but no grant or renovation funding was approved. The county’s budget gap and other potential savings were discussed, with public commenters citing an estimated $8 million shortfall.