June 24, 2026 | Pennington County Board of Commissioners Budget Hearing - Live

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners held a budget hearing on June 24, 2026, focusing on departmental budget presentations and capital improvement projects. Key procurement-related discussions included the Highway Department's capital equipment purchases such as motor grader blades, dump bodies, and a vacuum broom, as well as plans for a new highway shop pending land acquisition from the Forest Service. The department also discussed a $1.25 million agreement with Box Elder for road offloading, pending board approval. The 911 Center outlined infrastructure upgrades including console replacements funded partially by restricted funds, and proposed purchasing an AI software program for $77,000 in 2027 to improve call handling efficiency. The Buildings and Grounds department highlighted increased utility costs and ongoing capital projects, emphasizing in-house renovations to reduce contracted services. The Fire Department presented capital requests for replacing aging equipment including a cascade system, mask fit tester, thermal imaging devices, and personal protective equipment. Fleet management was a significant topic, with discussions on vehicle inventories, insurance coverage, and the need for centralized policies to manage the county's extensive vehicle fleet. IT discussed transitioning to cloud services with associated costs and software modernization efforts. Budget challenges were acknowledged, with a projected general fund deficit of approximately $5.4 million and discussions on balancing the budget without increasing taxes. Overall, the meeting emphasized strategic capital investments, technology upgrades, and operational efficiencies to manage county resources effectively.