Town Hall · Rapid

Rapid, SD town hall & government

Rapid spent $183.1 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,323 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Rapid

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Rapid's money goes

Spent
$183.1 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$2,323
typical South Dakota cities: $2,666
Long-term debt
$208.2 million
$2,641 per resident
Roads & transportation
$32.1 million18%
Parks & libraries
$28.3 million15%
Sewer & trash
$28.2 million15%
Police
$25.9 million14%
Fire
$25 million14%
Water & other utilities
$21.4 million12%
Health & welfare
$8.5 million5%
Interest on debt
$3.7 million2%
Administration & buildings
$3.2 million2%
Paid to other governments
$2 million1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$534,000<1%
Housing & development
$93,000<1%
Other
$4.1 million2%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 38%
  • Fees & charges 23%
  • Property taxes 15%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • From the federal government 5%
  • Interest, fines & other 4%
  • From the state 3%
  • From other local governments <1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Rapid

Full-time staff
895
513 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$70,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
140
and 134 full-time firefighters
Parks & libraries
143 full-time500 part
Police
196 full-time
Fire
173 full-time
Sewer & trash
110 full-time
Roads & transportation
103 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
56 full-time
Administration & buildings
46 full-time10 part
Housing & development
20 full-time
Health & welfare
7 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
6 full-time
Other
35 full-time2 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Rapid City School District 51-4

Rapid's K–12 school district, shared with Summerset. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$11,037
South Dakota: $13,040
Students
12,432
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$54.6 million
at year end

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

  • Local 56%
  • State 24%
  • Federal 20%

Of the $11,037 per pupil, $5,904 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.

Also serving Rapid: Douglas School District 51-1 ($12,211 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Rapid pay

Typical tax bill
$3,251
a year · South Dakota typical $2,724
Effective rate
1.09%
of home value · South Dakota 1.06%
Typical home value
$299,400
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.

Local

Contact Rapid's government

🏛️ Official websitercgov.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Rapid →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Rapid

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

All of Rapid'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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Rapid

South Dakota · SD
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01