The Grant County Commissioners conducted the first reading of the 2018 provisional budget during a public hearing held during their regular board meeting held Tuesday.
The provisional budget for 2018 shows five-point-two million dollars in the general fund, which is a seven percent increase when compared with the 2017 general fund amount, which is reported at four-point-eight million.
A major part of the proposed budget is the county’s five-year highway and bridge improvement plan, which is listed at 3.4 million dollars. Grant County Highway Superintendent Kerwin Schultz was on hand to provide the board with a general overview of the department’s recommended road and bridge improvements covering a five year period through the year 2022.
In other business, Ben Stout from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture was on hand to discuss the outlook for future agricultural development in Grant County. As a followup, the commissioners authorized the appointment of Grant County Development Corporation Executive Director Bobbie Bohlen to serve as a point of contact for the state ag department to work with in regard to better strengthening the county’s current agricultural base.
