STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council met in special session Monday night, and got their first look at the 2025 budget.
Mayor Angela Wilkerson delivered the budget proposal to council members, and says it includes necessary cuts from every department.
The 2025 budget is based on challenges being experienced by the city of Sturgis, including the city’s expenses outpacing revenues the past year.
Due to the purchase of the Richards Property and the number of TIF’s in town, the city’s cash expenses are also low. The city in September raised the mill levy to the maximum allowable and will use that extra money to put back into contingency.
Mayor Wilkerson provided some of the 2025 budget assumptions.
Wilkerson also proposed outsourcing legal services in the aftermath of the resignation of City Attorney Mark Marshal and eliminating several positions including city engineer and director of communications.
Wilkerson is hoping for discussion of the budget at next week’s meeting and a first reading by the second meeting in October.
Sturgis Council President Kevin Forrester, however, was not pleased with the budget presentation.
Forrester wants clarification in the budget increase of finance office and mayor and council, the increase in the water in the enterprise fund and the $170,000 in the contingency fund, which Forrester says is too low.
Forrester was also upset council didn’t receive a print out of the budget proposal ahead of time. Wilkerson instead used a powerpoint presentation. She told council members the budget would go out to them today (Tuesday).
The council also approved a resolution Monday that will have appoint Ann Bertolotto as interim Finance Officer.
The council also authorized the mayor to sign a contract with Prothman Recruitment Proposal to help in the search for a City Administrator and Finance Officer. Money to pay for the $60,000 contract will come out of the City Manager’s budget, which currently has just over $71,000.
The vote was not unanimous, passing on a vote by the mayor after it got deadlocked on a 4-4 vote.
