Central ND News

The Bismarck City Commission has approved the city’s final budget for 2026, following a meeting on September 9 that centered on staffing and its effects on overall spending.

Bismarck employs about 670 full-time staff members and between 200 and 300 part-time workers, depending on the season. Personnel costs, which include salaries and benefits, are projected to reach nearly $85 million in the coming year.

For 2026, total expenses are estimated at approximately $350.7 million. General fund revenues are expected to surpass $72.2 million, while expenditures from this fund will be just over $79.8 million. Property taxes are anticipated to bring in $36.7 million—less than the $40.8 million set aside for public safety within the general fund.

In line with state requirements, Bismarck applied House Bill 1176 to its budget planning process for next year, which limits growth in property tax collections by the city to a maximum of three percent.

“Finalizing a budget is a marathon,” said Bismarck Finance Director Dmitriy Chernyak. “For many of us, these discussions start in March and run through September. It’s a lot of what-if scenarios and collaboration between the budget committee, commission and staff. Every year, we’re grateful for all the hard work and sacrifices people are willing to make as we try to make very difficult decisions in the best interest of the organization and the community.”

The new budget allocates initial funding for construction of a police station for the Bismarck Police Department—a project expected to cost $80 million that will be financed by a half-cent sales tax measure passed by voters last November. The current police facility was built in 1979.

Upgrades at Bismarck Airport were also included in this year’s capital improvement plan: A runway rehabilitation valued at $15.3 million and an expansion of its commercial terminal costing $18 million will move forward after receiving more than $8.6 million in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The commission voted unanimously to accept this grant; Mayor Mike Schmitz was authorized to sign electronically.

“Capital improvement projects are critical for our community,” said Bismarck Mayor Mike Schmitz. “They are often large infrastructure items that catch people’s attention because of their price tag, but they are also immensely valuable to the community’s well-being.”

Other major capital improvements approved include: an expansion phase at the Water Treatment Plant ($30.6 million), extension of Tyler Parkway ($16.7 million), upgrades at Haycreek Lift Station & Force Main ($14.1 million), and street resurfacing or reconstruction projects totaling $12.3 million.

As with last year’s financial plan, general fund reserves have been committed toward several future projects totaling $20 million—such as emerald ash borer prevention efforts ($1 million), land acquisition for a new police station ($5 million), renovations of city buildings ($5 million), implementation of an enterprise resource planning system ($2 million), purchase of equipment for Fire Station #6 ($1.2 million) and construction funds for that fire station ($5.8 million).

Regarding staffing changes next year, departments requested funding for 12.5 full-time equivalent positions; ultimately, support was given to add or expand eight roles including communications officer (0.5 FTE), emergency preparedness specialist (partial FTE), engagement officer, legal assistant, human resources generalist positions (including one senior role), police records technician, and water plant operator.

During deliberations on court staffing needs, Municipal Judge Amanda Harris renewed her request for an additional position not initially included in recommendations; commissioners agreed it should be added pending standard review procedures.

City employees will receive a three percent cost-of-living adjustment plus up to two percent merit-based raises next year under terms approved by commissioners.

“In a year in which we are doing a lot of routine maintenance and lifts that we were expecting to make, with House Bill 1176, I think there will be years where, because of big equipment expenses or big projects that come across the board faster, we are going to have to make adjustments to salaries because of the cap,” said Commissioner Anne Cleary, who chaired the budget committee.“This year fortunately is not one of those years.I don’t want to do a decrease for the sake of doing a decrease where we’re not being held to it by the three percent.”

Salaries paid out in 2025 totaled just over $107 thousand among commissioners—with Mayor Mike Schmitz earning about thirty-three thousand dollars—and these rates will remain unchanged next year following another vote by commissioners.