The 2026 budgeting cycle has begun for Lyon County commissioners.
Commissioners heard budget requests from eight departments and allocation agencies as part of a study meeting on Wednesday:
*Elmendaro Township Library is requesting $54,000, up from $40,000 for the current-year appropriation
*Emporia Main Street is requesting $40,000, flat with the current-year appropriation
*Hetlinger Developmental Services is requesting $37,000, flat with the current-year allocation
*Lyon County Fair Board is requesting $78,000, up $18,000 from the current-year allocation
*Lyon County History Center is requesting $125,000, up $5,000 from the current-year appropriation
*Lyon County Clerk is requesting a flat budget aside from a 3-percent cost-of-living salary increase
*Lyon County Treasurer is requesting a flat budget aside from a cost-of-living salary increase
*SOS is requesting $29,700, flat with the current-year appropriation
Additional budget requests came before commissioners during their regular action meeting on Thursday:
*Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness is seeking $412,000 as well as $14,000 for Corner House, both flat from the prior year.
*The Lyon County Conservation District is seeking $40,000, up $5,000 from the prior year
Commissioners are anticipating a “tight budget” this year, according to County Controller Dan Williams, who spoke with KVOE News Thursday. Williams says the main cause is, like most things, the impact of inflation and tariffs, with the county already seeing some impacts from those pressures, specifically within the Road and Bridge Department.
On top of the inflationary pressures, Williams says large-scale projects and preliminary valuation trends, presented Thursday by County Appraiser Ryan Janzen, and law changes at the state level are likely to lead to a trend of “cautious” tight spending over the next year or two.
The Lyon County Commission is anticipating more allocation requests in the coming weeks. Commissioners will reconvene for their next regular action meeting at 9 am Thursday inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
