June 23, 2026 | Pennington County Board of Commissioners Budget Hearing - Live

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners held a budget hearing on June 23, 2026, to review department heads' budget requests for the 2027 fiscal year. No final budget actions were taken, but extensive presentations were made by various county departments and external agencies seeking funding. Key procurement-related discussions included budget requests for personnel, capital projects, and operational expenses. The Central States Fair requested a 2.5% budget increase and highlighted upcoming capital improvement needs such as insulation upgrades and parking lot maintenance. The Rapid City Library discussed funding challenges and proposed eliminating the library levy in favor of general fund appropriations. Human Services requested funds to support transportation and independent living services, while Complete Health and West River Mental Health sought continued support for healthcare and mental health services. The States Attorney's Office and Public Defender highlighted significant staffing shortages and requested additional full-time attorneys and support staff to manage increasing caseloads and maintain effective prosecution and defense services. The Sheriff’s Office presented a budget with a focus on maintaining 96% staffing levels and discussed operational efficiencies and grant opportunities. The meeting emphasized the need to balance rising personnel costs, capital outlays, and service demands within a constrained budget environment. The board planned further budget deliberations in July with potential motions on funding levels and staffing.