BROOKINGS City councilors continued their consideration of the citys proposed $72,526,765 budget for 2026 on Tuesday night, this time focusing on the 10-year capital improvement plan, whose expenses in the coming year are projected to be $13,352,457.
The CIP prioritizes maintaining and replacing existing facilities, vehicles and equipment, according to city documents.
A breakdown of some of the proposed expenses include:
Public Works (projects)
- $2,445,599: Street maintenance, such as asphalt and striping
- $1,350,000: Chip sealing
- $340,000: Americans with Disabilities-standard ramps
- $150,000: STP improvements (22nd Avenue Phase III)
- $126,788: Street improvements
Public Works (vehicles, equipment)
- $430,500: Street sweeper
- $360,000: Payloader
- $190,000: A 1-ton dually flatbed striper
- $100,000: Crack sealer
Parks, Recreation and Forestry (parks, facilities)
- $447,662: Fifth Street Gym improvements
- $350,000: A new filter system for the leisure pool at the Hillcrest Aquatic Center
- $200,000: HVAC controls at the Larson Ice Center
- $100,000: Improvements to the parking lot at Hillcrest Park
- $100,000: Arrowhead Park playground
The department is also proposing to set aside $150,000 next year for implementation of the master bike plan, and another $75,000 for a new tile floor at Brookings Public Library. Also on the menu is a Bobcat skid-steer at $70,000, along with $65,000 for a Toro mower. Finally, $75,000 is also being proposed for bike trail maintenance.
Public Safety (police department/animal control)
- $330,000: Replacement of three vehicles
- $189,000: E-911 console replacement
Other proposed expenses include $50,000 for a mobile field force, another $48,000 for armor carriers/helmets and $40,000 for firearms.
Public Safety (fire department)
- $700,000: Replacement of Engine 3
- $132,000: Structure/USAR gear
Other proposed costs include $75,000 for hydraulic rescue tools, $65,950 for pagers and radios, and $50,000 for roof replacement and $40,000 for training tower concrete, both at the South Station.
Other Expenses
- $135,000: Research & Technology Center demolition (801-809 32nd Ave.)
- $150,000: Sinking Fund contribution, which is basically a reserve in case unplanned maintenance issues arise.
Beyond 2026, councilors also heard about other major CIP-related expenses, including:
- $1.75 million for the fire platform truck (2027, financed over five years)
- $1.06 million for additional Fifth Street Gym improvements (2027-31)
- $700,000 for the replacement of Fire Engine 4 (2029, financed over a three-year period)
- Continued prioritization of maintenance and replacement of existing assets over new additions
Councilors had some observations and questions following the presentation by Assistant to the City Manager Samantha Beckman and Finance Director Ashley Rentsch.
This included Councilor Bonny Specker, who inquired about how the CIP is developed within each department, along with the process and timeline involved.
Its a bigger process than what you show, she said. When you show this, its the end product, and a lot has gone into that. It might be helpful if people understood a little bit more how it evolves.
Beckman said its a months-long process that generally launches in March, with budgets due to the budget team by May.
During that timeframe, then each department head should be meeting with their supervisors and anybody else in their department that would make any financial decisions, Beckman explained. Any big projects that are coming up, they should be on their radar and should probably have a list of projects (they) want to fund the next year.
Next steps in the process include department heads meeting with their teams and deciding what the highest priorities are, then asking for those in the subsequent budget requests, with the budget team then evaluating those requests with the appropriate personnel.
Theres been a lot of work thats gone into it from anybody from your boots-on-the-ground employee all the way up to us presenting it tonight (Tuesday), Beckman said.
Councilor Wayne Avery spoke about the necessity of the Fifth Street Gym expenses and how the gym will benefit the residents in and around Brookings in the years ahead.
We did acquire that property in the heart of the city, in a key location, he said. It had a lot of public support, (and) we essentially got the property for zero dollars as a transfer from the (Brookings School District). Theres going to be improvements made to it were probably improving it above and beyond what it was originally built as, so well have a very high-quality building with many uses and used by a lot of people.
He added, Im not feeling bad about doing that. We all got a lot of when we were contemplating doing that, we had a lot of support from the public, and I think its going to be used for a long time to come. Investing a little bit of money in it now is probably money well spent.
Mayor Oepke Ope Niemeyer agreed with Averys sentiments, noting that the gym was originally built for roughly $990,000 in the early 1990s.
Were going to spend $1.6 (million) to bring it back up to its original state and improve it, he said.
Improvements in the coming year include main entrance improvements, replacement of the north sidewalk, filling in the long jump pit, adding a sprinkler system, exterior handrails and fire alarms.
The budget process will continue into October and November, with first reading of the ordinance set for Oct. 28, and adoption of the budget along with the 10-year CIP and consolidated fee schedule set for Nov. 18.
There may also be a third workshop on Oct. 14 for recap and discussion, but it hasnt been determined yet if its needed.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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