Bismarck city commissioners approved a plan on Oct. 28 to allocate an anticipated $269,942 reimbursement from Burleigh County. The reimbursement stems from a 2025 mill‑levy calculation error that under‑collected property taxes for 2026.
Background on the error
Burleigh County mistakenly included taxable valuations for mobile homes and in‑lieu‑of‑tax properties in the real‑estate valuation base when setting the 2025 mill levies used for 2026 property taxes. The miscalculation created a shortfall of about $900,000 for the affected local taxing entities.
County response and verification
On Oct. 19 the county commission voted to reimburse the affected entities. County officials said they will draw from reserve funds to cover the shortfall and have instituted additional verification procedures to prevent a repeat of the mistake.
Bismarck’s allocation plan
City Administrator Jason Tomanek explained that, once the reimbursement is received, city staff recommend treating the funds as if the property taxes had been collected correctly. The proposed distribution mirrors the original tax‑assessment amounts, ensuring each local taxing entity receives its fair share.
Commissioner Michael Connelly praised the county’s action, stating, “Kudos for the county for coming around and doing the right thing so we can move forward for our citizens.”
Next steps
The reimbursement payment is scheduled to appear before Burleigh County commissioners for final approval on Nov. 2. After county approval, the city will follow its allocation plan and disburse the funds to the appropriate local taxing entities.
City officials emphasized that the prompt correction protects local services and helps maintain fiscal stability for Bismarck residents.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
