Bismarck, ND town hall & government
Bismarck spent $224.1 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $3,010 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Bismarck's government.
Who runs Bismarck
From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Coming up at Bismarck's town hall
- Oct 1Thu · 5:00 pmBoard of AdjustmentCANCELLED Board of Adjustment Meeting page ↗
- Oct 6Tue · 5:00 pmBismarck-Burleigh Combined Commissions CommitteeBismarck-Burleigh Commissions Committee - October 6, 2026City-County Office Building - Tom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th St Meeting page ↗
- Oct 8Thu · 9:00 amBismarck Parking AuthorityCity/County Building Tom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th Street Meeting page ↗
- Oct 8Thu · 4:00 pmRenaissance Zone AuthorityCity-County Office Building - Tom Baker Meeting Room Meeting page ↗
- Oct 13Tue · 5:15 pmBoard of City CommissionersBismarck City CommissionTom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th St Meeting page ↗
- Oct 19Mon · 10:00 amMetropolitan Planning Organization - Technical CommitteeMandan City Hall, Ed "Bosh" Froehlich Meeting Room, 205 2nd Ave NW Meeting page ↗
Recent meetings
- Sep 24Thu · 4:00 pmVision Fund CommitteeCANCELED - Vision Fund CommitteeCity-County Office Building - Tom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th St Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 24Thu · 12:00 pmLibrary Board of DirectorsBismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library - Missouri River Room, 515 N 5th Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 23Wed · 5:00 pmBismarck Planning & Zoning CommissionCity-County Office Building - Tom Baker Meeting Room Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 22Tue · 6:15 pmBismarck Tobacco Free General CoalitionBismarck Burleigh Public Health, 407 S 26th St Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 22Tue · 5:15 pmBoard of City CommissionersBismarck City CommissionTom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th St Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 21Mon · 2:00 pmBismarck Event Center Authority BoardTom Baker Meeting Room, 221 N 5th St Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 16Wed · 4:00 pmHuman Relations CommitteeCity-County Office Building - Mayor's Conference Room, 221 N 5th St Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 16Wed · 3:00 pmHistoric Preservation CommissionCity-County Office Building - Tom Baker Meeting Room Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Official listings from Bismarck's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.
Where Bismarck's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Fees & charges 23%
- Sales taxes 15%
- From the state 15%
- Interest, fines & other 14%
- Property taxes 14%
- From the federal government 8%
- Utility sales 8%
- From other local governments 2%
- Other taxes & licenses 1%
Who works for Bismarck
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
Bismarck Public School District 1
Bismarck's K–12 school district, shared with Hay Creek, Lincoln, Gibbs, Glenview and Apple Creek. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.
Where the district's money comes from North Dakota districts overall: 40% local, 46% state, 14% federal
- Local 34%
- State 56%
- Federal 9%
Of the $15,100 per pupil, $9,286 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.
Which schools Bismarck kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Bismarck pay
The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Contact Bismarck's government
Who represents Bismarck
Bismarck is represented in Congress by Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak. Kelly Armstrong is governor.
Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.