Town Hall · Bison

Bison, SD town hall & government

Bison spent $2.8 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $9,440 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Bison's government.

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Bison's money goes

Spent
$2.8 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$9,440
typical South Dakota cities: $2,666
Long-term debt
$786,000
$2,620 per resident
Health & welfare
$2.2 million78%
Housing & development
$106,0004%
Parks & libraries
$105,0004%
Sewer & trash
$76,0003%
Water & other utilities
$74,0003%
Administration & buildings
$68,0002%
Police
$62,0002%
Roads & transportation
$61,0002%
Interest on debt
$44,0002%
Fire
$13,000<1%
Paid to other governments
$5,000<1%
Other
$8,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 74%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • Property taxes 6%
  • Sales taxes 5%
  • Utility sales 3%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Bison didn't report all of its 2024 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Bison

Full-time staff
4
22 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$44,300
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
4 full-time13 part
Housing & development
0 full-time9 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Bison School District 52-1

Bison's K–12 school district, shared with Ada, Antelope, Beck-Highland, Bison, Cash and Chaudoin. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$17,358
South Dakota: $13,040
Students
137
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$2 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from South Dakota districts overall: 50% local, 31% state, 19% federal

  • Local 63%
  • State 24%
  • Federal 12%

Of the $17,358 per pupil, $9,759 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Bison pay

Typical tax bill
$1,342
a year · South Dakota typical $2,724
Effective rate
1.64%
of home value · South Dakota 1.06%
Typical home value
$82,000
owner-occupied

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. In a town this small the survey estimate has a wide margin.

Local

Contact Bison's government

🏛️ Official websitebisonsd.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Bison →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Bison

Bison is represented in Congress by Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds and Representative Dusty Johnson. Larry Rhoden is governor.

All of Bison's representatives, with contacts →

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.

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Bison

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