Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council unanimously approved a $50,986 change order for the 5th Avenue North reconstruction project, allowing the contractor to move into Phase 2 early and accelerate the overall timeline by roughly two months.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Facing the dual challenges of a statewide “wobbly” tax structure and declining local enrollment, the Watertown School Board met Monday night to review a $116,617,894 preliminary budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The proposal reflects a 3.66% decrease across all funds from the previous year, driven largely by proactive staffing adjustments and strategic fund management.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD The Codington County Board of Commissioners is considering a request to restore annual funding for the Codington County Conservation District, an entity born of the lessons of the “Dirty Thirties” that now struggles against modern economic pressures.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council moved forward with two neighborhood street projects during its April 20 meeting, taking advantage of a competitive bidding environment to secure contracts for significantly less than initially estimated. The approved projects target both routine pavement maintenance and critical drainage issues in specific residential sectors of the city.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council voted tonight to overhaul the maintenance fleet at Cattail Crossing Golf Course, approving a $710,000 equipment lease-purchase agreement with Van Wall Equipment.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board greenlit several equipment purchases and lease agreements for Lake Area Technical College (LATC) during its Monday night meeting, aimed at bolstering the school’s nursing and heavy equipment programs.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council tonight unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance 25-26, supplementing the 2025 budget to cover various departmental shortfalls, grant appropriations, and line-item transfers. The vote was preceded by a discussion of unexpected increases in insurance and utility bills, as well as substantial banking fees.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - During last night’s administrative reports, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen provided the Watertown School Board with an update on recent legislative developments in Pierre, most notably the Governor’s proposed budget address and anticipated bills concerning property tax relief and school cell phone policies.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council held the first reading of Ordinance No. 25-26 on December 1, 2025, proposing a supplemental appropriation to the 2025 budget. The ordinance seeks to cover overruns across various departments and projects, incorporate state and federal grant appropriations, and authorize line-item fund transfers among the General Fund, Park & Rec Fund, and Capital Improvement Fund.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council unanimously approved the 2026 budget appropriation on Wednesday night, passing a total financial package of $65.4 million.