BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — The City of Bismarck unanimously approved its 2025 budget during its final September meeting.

The 2025 budget consists of just over $370 million, with general fund expenditures expected to cost roughly $69 million. The general fund budget will operate at a deficit for one year, and be covered by the city’s reserves — but future revenues will be needed to cover this deficit.

“I’d like to thank the Budget Committee and the City Commission for the exceptional work completed during this budget cycle,” said Finance Director Dmitriy Chernyak. “I feel like we have been able to address the growing need for service from our citizens while maintaining a mostly balanced budget that is critical to long-term success for the City of Bismarck.”

Below is a list of additional public safety and service components included in the 2025 budget.

• A police drone program to assist with specific emergency response situations
• Runway rehabilitation projects at Bismarck Airport
• Additional software for police body camera integration
• South Bismarck flood protection project
• Water Treatment Plant expansion
• Haycreek lift station and interceptor projects
• Purchase of a landfill compactor
• 5.6% staff salary increase to remain compliant with compensation plan

In addition to these features, the City of Bismarck is also dropping property taxes in coordination with Burleigh County’s decision to fund more of Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health’s Budget.

“We appreciate Burleigh County’s ongoing financial commitment to its residents,” said City Commissioner Anne Cleary. “We believe this continued cooperative approach ensures a safe and healthy community and we are excited to see where these next steps take us.”

One major proposal concerns lowering the base charge of water rates in every city utility account. The 5% reduction was issued in response to a $50 million grant awarded by the State Legislature last year to aid with the expansion of Bismarck’s water treatment plant. The lowering is expected to be discussed further and potentially finalized at the City Commission’s October 8th meeting.

“The City of Bismarck is certainly grateful for the legislature’s grant in 2023 and that money is making this reduction possible,” said Bismarck Mayor Mike Schmitz. “We need to give something back to the taxpayers and this was one way that everyone can get some relief.”

Agendas, minutes, and videos of previous City Commission meetings can be found on Bismarck’s website . Information about previous budgets is also available online here .

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