County Briefing
Custer County residents deserve to know what's happening in their government. This page tracks key issues sourced directly from public records, commission minutes, audit reports, and local news — updated as information becomes available.
Qury Fire Burns 7,000+ Acres — FEMA Grant Approved
The Qury Fire ignited in Custer County in March 2026 and rapidly grew to over 7,000 acres, forcing mandatory evacuations across multiple areas. Governor Rhoden secured a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant, making federal reimbursement available for firefighting costs. However, FEMA audits grant recipients — and counties with repeat audit findings face scrutiny that can reduce or eliminate reimbursements. With four consecutive audit cycles of repeat findings, Custer County's financial posture puts maximum recovery at risk.
Sources: SD Dept. of Public Safety / FEMA.gov / SD Legislative Audit DivisionLaw Enforcement Contract Rejected — First Time in 45 Years
The commission demanded $750,000 — a 72% increase — in late summer 2025. Negotiations continued through December 18th. The city's final counteroffer would have reached that exact figure by 2028. The commission rejected it and rescinded all previous offers. When the city expressed regret that an agreement could not be reached, Commissioner Hindle said "So are we" — and the commissioners voted unanimously to dissolve the contract, effectively ending 45 years of cooperation.
Source: Custer County ChronicleSchool Resource Officer Removed from Custer Schools
A direct consequence of the failed law enforcement contract: the school resource officer was pulled from Custer schools. Commission Chairman Lintz met with school officials in January 2026 regarding the loss of law enforcement presence. A follow-up meeting was held to discuss options for restoring coverage — an outcome that was entirely avoidable.
Source: Custer County Commission Minutes, January 20, 20262023 Audit: Fourth Consecutive Cycle of Repeat Findings
The 2023 audit found inadequate internal controls over cash and investment reconciliation, failure to file annual financial reports for 2022 and 2023, and county expenditures exceeding appropriations contrary to state law. This marks the fourth consecutive audit cycle with the same repeat findings — spanning 2016 through 2023. County management did not formally respond to auditors in any of these cycles.
Source: SD Legislative Audit DivisionIllegal Overspending: Expenditures Exceeding Appropriations
South Dakota law prohibits counties from spending beyond their approved appropriations. Custer County has been cited for this violation across multiple consecutive audit cycles. No corrective action plan has been filed. No management response has been submitted. The finding repeats — and county leadership has not publicly explained why.
Source: SD Legislative Audit DivisionRequired Annual Financial Reports Not Filed
Custer County failed to file required annual financial reports for 2022 and 2023 — a violation cited in the most recent audit. These reports are a basic transparency requirement under South Dakota law. Their absence means the public and state oversight bodies cannot fully verify how county funds were managed.
Source: SD Legislative Audit DivisionCommission Chairman Lintz Will Not Seek Re-election
At the January 7, 2026 commission meeting, Chairman Jim Lintz announced this will be his last year serving on the board and that he will not seek re-election. Three commissioner seats are up for election in the June 2, 2026 Republican Primary — representing a significant opportunity for voters to demand accountability and change course.
Source: Custer County Commission Minutes, January 7, 20262026 County Budget: $13 Million with Rising Costs
The adopted 2026 Custer County budget totals $13,037,867 — a 1% increase over 2025. Public safety accounts for $2,662,985, including $2,031,663 for the sheriff's office and $520,500 for prisoner care. Delinquent tax real estate listings jumped from 172 in 2024 to 392 in 2025 — a 128% increase — suggesting growing financial pressure on county residents.
Source: Custer County Commission Budget Hearing Minutes, September 2025