BROOKINGS (11-11-26) — At last night’s meeting, the Brookings City Council approved next year’s municipal budget. It’s a $77.4 million balanced budget, representing a 6.7 percent increase from last year’s budget.
Ashley Rentsch is city finance director… “The proposed 2027 budget totals approximately $77.4 million and is divided into four primary categories. The general fund represents $23.7 million — or 31 percent of the total budget — and supports the city’s core governmental services, including public safety, public works, and parks, recreation and forestry.”
She said the budget increase is due to building projects rather than ongoing programs… “The proposed budget represents an increase of $4.8 million — or 6.7 percent — from the 2026 adopted budget. Much of this increase is attributable to planned capital projects and infrastructure investments, rather than increases to ongoing operations. The budget also includes the final year of the city’s existing financial commitments to the SDSU Performing Arts Center and Brookings Health System.”
Rentsch said the city is anticipating revenue growth… “On the revenue side, we’ve maintained conservative revenue assumptions, including a 2.5 percent revenue growth assumption for sales tax and 3.327 percent growth assumption for property tax. The budget also includes implementation of the city’s wage study, reflecting our continued commitment to maintaining a competitive workforce.”
The council also approved next year’s consolidated fee schedule and 10-year capital improvement plan at last night’s meeting.
The 2027 City of Brookings Budget can be viewed here: https://cityofbrookings.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=16088200&GUID=F7FD90DD-B2A8-4634-9789-C0A6A584F6F8
— Brookings Radio News
