The County Auditor as the clerk of the County Commissioners is required to keep an accurate record of official proceedings and preserve all documents, books accounting records, and maps. The Auditor schedules appointments, prepares the agenda, and prepares the legal notices required for publishing.

The County Auditor is in charge of the accounting functions for the county. These include: accounts payable, payroll and employee benefits, fixed assets and inventory records of county property, prepares monthly and annual financial reports, assists the County Commissioners with annual budget, calculates the tax levies for all taxing entities in the county and apportions the taxes collected by the Treasurer.

The County Auditor is the Election Supervisor for the county. Election duties include voter registration, securing polling places, ballot preparation, set-up of automarks and election scanner, appoint and train election workers, canvass and report election results, and issue certificates of election.

Public Records Requests

Requests for records relating to the business of the County that are deemed public by South Dakota law must be formally made by letter sent via U.S. Mail to the address below. Pursuant to SDCL 1-27-37, Lake County treats requests by telephone or email to be informal. Lake County only accepts formal requests for records.

Lake County Auditor
200 E. Center St.
Madison, SD 57042

-Requests for records from the Lake County Sheriff should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office.
-Requests for records relating to filed court cases, both criminal and civil, should be directed to the Lake County Clerk of Courts.

Staff

Paula Barrick

Auditor State law requires completed absentee ballot applications to be notarized or include a photocopy of an acceptable photo identification card. Voters may take a photo of their ID (driver's license or non-driver ID card, tribal photo ID, passport, or other picture lD issued by the United States government, or a current student photo lD issued by a South Dakota high school or postsecondary education institution) and email it to the Auditor at: lakeauditor@lake.sd.gov

Jill Olson ----- Email: lakeauditor2@lake.sd.gov

Deputy Auditor

Tina Johnson ----- Email: lakeauditor3@lake.sd.gov

Deputy Auditor

Contact Information

Main Office

Address:
Lake County Auditor
200 E Center St
Madison SD 57042

Phone:
605-256-7600
Fax:
605-256-7622

Office Hours:
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday – Friday (excluding Holidays)

Announcements

Absentee Voting
Monday, April 27, 2026

June 2026 Primary Election Ballots are now available! Absentee Voting is open from 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

Real Estate & Mobile Home Taxes - First Half Deadline
Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Lake County property owners have until April 30th to pay the 1st half of their 2025 due in 2026 real estate & mobile home taxes without a penalty. The 2025 taxes can be paid at Treasurer’s Office, located on the 1st floor of the courthouse from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Mon-Fri. Payments can also be placed in the drop box located in the vestibule at the north entrance of the courthouse or be mailed. If mailed, it must be postmarked no later than April 30th. Interest will be added to all delinquent taxes

Mailed Tax Payments
Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Mail payments early to allow for processing. The USPS only postmarks mail once it is received at a processing center, it no longer is stamped at the local post office at the time of drop off. Visit with the clerk at your USPS office to have your mail hand stamped to make sure it has a valid postmark. If the payment isn’t received by Thursday, April 30th it must have a valid postmark to be considered timely. Receipts will only be returned if you enclose a stamped self- addressed envelope.

Real Estate & Mobile Home Taxes - First Half
Wednesday, April 1, 2026

First half of Real Estate and Mobile Home Taxes due by the end of April. Please bring your tax notices with you. Tax payments must be made for the exact amount only.
Tax payments may be sent to the Treasurer's Office at 200 E. Center St, Madison, SD 57042 and MUST be postmarked by April 30. Please send your tax stubs to ensure proper credit to the correct parcels of land. Please note: Payments received or postmarked after April 30th will reflect a late fee and interest.

Property Tax Payment Drop Box
Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The Treasurer's Office also offers a drop box for property tax payments located between the double doors of the north entrance to the courthouse. Payments must include the payment coupon or parcel number with each payment and be in the exact amount only (all others will be returned). If you would like a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payments dropped off after 4:30 p.m., M-F will be credited the following business day.

CUP/Variance Deadline 4/27/2026
Sunday, March 15, 2026

CUP/Variance Applications due for consideration for the May 19th meeting

Drivers Exam closed
Monday, February 23, 2026

Due to staffing, the drivers exam, located at the 4-H grounds, is closed until further notice

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