BROOKINGS The citys proposed $72.8 million budget for 2025 was once again front and center at Tuesday nights Brookings City Council meeting, with special attention given this time to the $13.7 million capital improvement plan.
The two city departments that primarily utilize the CIP for funding projects public works, along with parks, recreation and forestry detailed their spending priorities for the coming years in a presentation by Deputy City Manager Jacob Meshke. Some of the highlights include:
Public works
Street maintenance, including asphalt and striping: $2,329,142
Chip sealing: $1.3 million
Americans with Disabilities Act-standard ramps: $325,000
Vehicle replacements: $450,000 for a grader; $410,000 for a street sweeper; and $300,000 for a tandem axle truck
Sidewalk and curb replacement: $135,000
Street improvements: $120,750
Parks, recreation and forestry
Branch Creek/Fishback Park: $900,000
Replace skatepark equipment: $315,000
Replace HVAC controls at Larson Ice Center: $200,000
Forestry dump truck replacement: $200,000
Master bike plan implementation: $150,000
Hillcrest Tennis Court resurfacing/repair: $100,000
Updating bathrooms at Brookings Public Library: $100,000
The primary revenue source for the CIP is the second-penny sales tax, which comprises roughly $10.1 million, or 74%, of its budget. If South Dakota voters approve Initiated Measure 28 on Nov. 5, that revenue stream could be affected, depending on how IM 28 is administered by the state.
Brookings officials are projecting, in a worst-case scenario, a roughly $800,000 decline in sales tax revenue for 2025 a dollar amount that isnt yet accounted for in the citys proposed overall budget. That total would double in subsequent years since, if passed, IM 28 wouldnt take effect until July 1 of next year, which is roughly halfway through the citys budget year.
Looking ahead, the CIP could have some heavy-hitting expenditures in the coming years. These include replacing a Brookings Fire Department platform truck in 2026 for $1.75 million, phase three of 22nd Avenue South reconstruction in 2027 for $2.45 million and, in 2030, replacing the irrigation at Edgebrook Golf Course for $2 million.
The next regular City Council meeting, planned for Oct. 8, could also address any lingering budget questions councilors may have, but City Clerk Bonnie Foster said Wednesday afternoon that a need for a third study session hadnt yet been determined.
Beyond the budget
At Tuesdays meeting, city councilors also approved:
A $164,084.23 bid from Timmons Construction for the 2024 Brookings Trails Project, which will include work at Sexauer, Pioneer and Dakota Nature parks. The Sexauer and Pioneer parks work includes new trail segments that will enhance overall connectedness, according to Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Kristin Zimmerman.
Timmons Construction bid was roughly 20% lower than the estimated project cost of $204,000. Other bidders were BX Civil and Construction of Dell Rapids and Clark Drew Construction of Brookings.
A $298,549.50 bid from Timmons Construction for the 2025-09STI Concrete Maintenance Project. That bid total is roughly 2% below the engineers estimate of $303,266.10.
The project includes removal and replacement of non-compliant ramps, curb replacement, fillets and other concrete items throughout the city. Its completion date is by July 3.
Other bidders were Clark Drew Construction and TM Altena Construction.
Set a special City Council meeting for 6 p.m. Sept. 30 to address a housing-related ordinance designed to handle reasonable accommodations requests pursuant to the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.
The proposed ordinance regards an issue involving a sober house and the neighborhood its located in. The meeting will be in the Council Chambers of the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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