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Commission approves $649,392.15 in sales‑tax support to keep Bismarck‑Mandan transit running in 2025
Summary
Bismarck approved $649,392.15 from its dedicated transit sales tax to cover most of Bizmann Transit's projected 2025 operating deficit; commissioners were told $2.1 million in dedicated collections are available and that public hearings on service changes will follow in January and February.
The Bismarck City Commission voted Dec. 16 to grant Bismarck Transit $649,392.15 from the city’s dedicated transit sales‑tax fund to help close a projected 2025 operating shortfall.
Deidra, representing the Bismarck‑Mandan Transit Board, told the commission the agency’s projected operating deficit had been reduced to approximately $760,000 after mitigation efforts and that the transit board is requesting $649,392.15 from Bismarck (85.44% of the request) and $110,664.21 from Mandan (14.56%). She said the federal 5307 urban transit grant rose only 2.3% while local costs for fuel, vehicle repairs and contractor expenses increased, and that ridership through Nov. 30 was 127,197 fixed‑route trips and 85,346 paratransit trips.
Commissioners asked about the status of dedicated sales‑tax collections; a city finance representative reported roughly $2.1 million in dedicated transit collections is available, which staff said is sufficient to accommodate the request. A motion to approve the allocation passed on a roll call with unanimous support.
Deidra said that once funding is secured the transit board will begin a public service‑change process that includes two public comment meetings (scheduled for Jan. 13) and a public hearing on Jan. 22 at the transit facility; proposed changes would be returned to the commission for final approval, with an implementation target of April 1 if the schedule holds.
Next steps: the transit board will use the allocation to avoid immediate service cuts, hold public comment meetings and present proposed service changes to the commission for final action.
