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Government budget and revenue in Bismarck, North Dakota: official figures

Bismarck's city government took in $246.97 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,317 for each of its 74,445 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 216th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,317
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,010
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,718
2024

How much does Bismarck spend and on what?

It spent $224.09 million in the same year, $3,010 per resident, the 240th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were roads and highways (25.9%), police (12.8%) and solid waste (11.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Bismarck collect per resident?

Taxes raised $74.38 million ($999 per resident, the 244th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 32.6% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Bismarck rely on?

Of Bismarck's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 46.4%, general sales tax 41.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 8.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Bismarck's property tax share is the 227th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Bismarck get?

Payments from other governments made up 26.7% of Bismarck's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 9.1% from the federal government ($279 per resident), 15.9% from the state and 1.7% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bismarck raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $57.16 million, 25.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $18.68 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bismarck spend on police?

Bismarck's city government spent $28.69 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $385 per resident (the 242nd highest of 582) and 12.8% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bismarck spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $11.49 million, $154 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Bismarck have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Bismarck's city government owed $202.34 million in long-term debt, $2,718 per resident (the 232nd highest of 582). During the year it issued $41.65 million of new long-term debt and repaid $26.14 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bismarck pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $4.49 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Bismarck city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 11.3% from $2,981 to $3,317, spending per resident rose 33.9% to $3,010, taxes per resident rose 17.0% to $999.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Bismarck compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 233 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
230West Des Moines$2,994
231Colton$2,982
232Camden$2,981
233Bismarck$2,981
234Buckeye$2,979
235Sioux City$2,970
236Marana$2,964
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 354 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
351McKinney$2,255
352Richardson$2,253
353Oceanside$2,248
354Bismarck$2,248
355Columbus$2,245
356Cape Coral$2,243
357Taylor$2,242
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 463 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
460Bowie$856
461Margate$855
462Pensacola$855
463Bismarck$854
464Redding$853
465Vista$852
466Battle Creek$849
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 260 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
257Tuscaloosa$365
258San Clemente$364
259El Cajon$364
260Bismarck$364
261Taunton$363
262Arlington Heights$363
263Santa Maria$362
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 273 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
270Springdale$2,554
271Orange$2,550
272Bethlehem$2,548
273Bismarck$2,545
274Mountain View$2,539
275New Bedford$2,525
276Newport Beach$2,522
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 426 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
423Pensacola42.5%
424Davis42.5%
425Apopka42.5%
426Bismarck42.3%
427Alameda42.2%
428Palo Alto42.2%
429San Diego41.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bismarck ranks 255 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
252Janesville22.8%
253Bloomington22.7%
254Kenner22.7%
255Bismarck22.5%
256Farmington Hills22.4%
257Shoreline22.4%
258St. Clair Shores22.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 216 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
213Evansville$3,370
214Mobile$3,364
215Richardson$3,356
216Bismarck$3,317
217Gastonia$3,315
218Tulsa$3,301
219Idaho Falls$3,295
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 240 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
237Everett$3,043
238Gastonia$3,039
239Schaumburg$3,019
240Bismarck$3,010
241Jersey City$3,009
242Bloomington$3,005
243Aurora$3,002
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 339 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
336Enid$1,003
337Margate$1,002
338Santa Maria$1,001
339Bismarck$999
340Visalia$999
341St. Petersburg$999
342St. Paul$997
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 242 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
239Bossier City$387
240Peoria$386
241Buckeye$385
242Bismarck$385
243Norwalk$385
244Everett$384
245Salinas$384
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 232 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
229Berkeley$2,738
230Waterloo$2,735
231Wilmington$2,719
232Bismarck$2,718
233Greenville$2,716
234Missoula$2,713
235Noblesville$2,711
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 354 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
351New Braunfels47.5%
352White Plains47.1%
353Denton46.8%
354Bismarck46.4%
355New Orleans46.3%
356San Jose46.0%
357Sarasota46.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bismarck ranks 173 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
170Buckeye26.9%
171Idaho Falls26.9%
172Muncie26.8%
173Bismarck26.7%
174Gallatin26.6%
175Boston26.6%
176Elizabeth26.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.