RAPID CITY, SD —The Rapid City Common Council Tuesday night approved first reading of the proposed 2027 City budget.

The Council approved one change to the budget from previous adjustments, voting 8-1 to reinstate $100,000 to the mayor’s budget. The Council voted 7-2 to approve first reading of the FY2027 Appropriation Ordinance, commonly referred to as the city budget.

With the line item reinstatement, the budget includes the following adjustments approved by the Council at a special session August 26:

•  Reduce the City Council’s contingency fund budget by $700,000, utilizing the savings for further actions and reducing the use of undesignated cash for the 2027 budget

•  Approve an additional planner and code enforcement officer for the Community Development Department

•  Reduce allocation for an Independence Day 2027 observance from $500,000 to $100,000

•  Allocation increases to the Canyon Lake Activity Center and the Minneluzahan Senior Center with an additional $50,000 to each entity

•  Allocation of an additional $182,523 from undesignated funds to enhance Rapid Transit System driver compensation

•  Allocation of an additional $124,000 to fully fund four new FTEs for the parks department for the entire year

•  Allocation of an additional $120,000 for the parks department for professional services

•  Additional allocation of $7,423 for Emergency Planning

Second reading of the 2027 city budget is scheduled for the September 21 Council meeting. State law requires municipal budgets receive two formal ‘readings’ with approval by the City Council by September 30.