PENNINGTON COUNTY, S.D. – The Pennington County Commissioners approved a provisional budget Wednesday clearing the way for public meetings on the proposal before it’s adopted in its final form in September.

Two key takeaways from the commissioner’s discussion revolved around a 4 percent reduction to wages in major operating budgets and funding for outside agencies, specifically library services.

The proposed 2027 Pennington County provisional budget show total appropriations of $135.6 million, 2.8 percent above the 2026 budget.

Personnel

While no decisions have been made on the FY2027 budget, the commissioners indicated a likely 4 percent overall payroll cut would be applied. Personnel accounts for more than 56 percent of the provisional budget and, in the budget numbers, step increases, cost-of-living-adjustments, promotions, and increases to employee benefits were not factored in.

If commissioners approve the 4 percent payroll cut, it’s estimated personnel expenses would be reduced by almost $2.4 million, bringing total personnel expenses to $69,573,000.

Pennington County currently has 92 vacant positions, 78 of those full time. The county’s authorized staffing level is 870 positions (equal to 832 full time equivalent employees).

Outside agencies

Several outside agencies receive funding from Pennington County. In 2026, 14 agencies received about $1.8 million; in the 2027 budget, 16 agencies are seeking $2.2 million, a 22 percent increase.

Rapid City and area libraries, the Central States Fair, mandated legal services, the Humane Society of the Black Hills, Complete Health, West River Mental Health, Western Dakota Regional Water System, Pennington County Conservation District, East Pennington Conservation District, Rapid City Hazmat, Rapid City Water Rescue and others.

Last year, the commissioners proposed a funding cut to Rapid City Public Library which was eventually reduced to be reconsidered in the 2027 budget. In 2026, the Rapid City library received $320,000 from the county and is requesting a 17 percent increase in 2027.

The commissioners Tuesday discussed library funding indicating the library levy in the county budget was $141,000. The commissioners discussed allocating $81,000 of that amount to the Rapid City library, and the remaining $63,000 to the Hill City, Wall, and Keystone public libraries.

Rapid City library would take the largest reduction in funding.

“If it’s too large a shortfall we’ll be right back in the situation we had last year,” Commissioner Ron Rossknecht said.

Next steps

Several factors remain before the budget is finalized – personnel issues including new position requests, outside agency funding, using the consumer price index, step increases, and budget reserves will all be part of the budget equation.

A detailed 460-page budget presentation is available on the Pennington County website linked to the July 29 budget hearing notice.

The next 2027 Pennington County budget meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18. By state law, the Public Hearing for final adoption of the 2027 budget is Sept.1 at 10 a.m.