The City of Prior Lake will receive additional intergovernmental aid from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for the next two years.
The Prior Lake City Council approved an amendment to the three-year intergovernmental aid agreement shared with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community that will increase the latter’s contribution by $125,000 in each of the next two years.
City Manager Jason Wedel updated the council at its Sept. 9 meeting on changes that had occurred since the three-year intergovernmental aid agreement with the SMSC had been signed in December of 2024. The agreement covered the period from 2025 through 2027, during which the city would receive $1.4 million each year for mutual aid primarily related to public safety expenditures.
Wedel said the city studied its current public safety staffing needs earlier this year and the outcome suggested eight additional positions were needed. Three positions have been added to the 2026 budget and will include the hiring of another sergeant, a records specialist and an information technology specialist to support police operations.
He added that the city also did a compensation study involving 14 other cities of similar size and found it was on the low end of the scale. Pay adjustments have now been factored into next year’s budget.
The city requested the SMSC business council to consider amending the original agreement, based on the results of the recent studies. SMSC leaders concurred, and the contributions for both 2026 and 2027 will increase by $125,000 per year. The annual contribution to the city for 2026 will total $1.525 million and increase to $1.65 million in 2027.
Mayor Kirt Briggs cited the collaborative relationship and continued partnership that has grown over the years between the two governmental entities. Other council members expressed appreciation for the willingness to make modifications to the original agreement that will be of financial benefit to the city.