Frequently Asked Questions

The November bond proposal is for $116.5 million. Based on the district's current taxable valuation and financing estimates, the projected tax impact is approximately 9.45 mills.

For residential property, that equals approximately $3.54 per month for every $100,000 of True and Full Value.

The proposed bonds would be financed for up to 20 years.

The tax impacts shown by the district represent the estimated impact based on current taxable valuation and financing assumptions. As Bismarck's overall taxable valuation changes over time, the number of mills necessary to make the required annual bond payments may also change.

No. The facility needs included in this proposal were identified through a long-range planning process that began well before the state's recent property tax relief measures.

BPS has maintained and updated a Long-Range Facilities Plan for several years. The most recent work included professional facility assessments, enrollment projections, community input, and School Board review of building conditions, accessibility, safety, program needs, and aging infrastructure.

The timing of the proposal is based on those identified facility needs, not the state's property tax relief program.

We recognize, however, that state property tax relief is part of the overall tax picture for homeowners and should be considered when residents evaluate their individual property tax obligations.

The General Fund primarily supports the day-to-day operation of Bismarck Public Schools. The large majority of those dollars support salaries and benefits for the employees who provide educational programs and services to students.

Recent North Dakota legislation also limits the annual growth in property tax dollars available to the district to 3%. Using the General Fund for major construction projects would require those dollars to compete directly with classroom instruction, staffing, student services, utilities, transportation, and other operating expenses.

For that reason, major long-term facility improvements are typically financed separately through voter-approved bonds, allowing the General Fund to remain focused on operating schools and educating students.

The General Fund primarily supports the day-to-day operation of Bismarck Public Schools. The large majority of those dollars support salaries and benefits for the employees who provide educational programs and services to students.

Recent North Dakota legislation also limits the annual growth in property tax dollars available to the district to 3%. Using the General Fund for major construction projects would require those dollars to compete directly with classroom instruction, staffing, student services, utilities, transportation, and other operating expenses.

For that reason, major long-term facility improvements are typically financed separately through voter-approved bonds, allowing the General Fund to remain focused on operating schools and educating students.

Yes. North Dakota offers property tax relief programs that may assist qualifying homeowners.

The Homestead Property Tax Credit is available to qualifying North Dakotans who are age 65 or older or who have a permanent and total disability. Eligibility and the amount of assistance depend on requirements established by the state.

North Dakota also provides a Primary Residence Credit for qualifying homeowners.

Because eligibility requirements and credit amounts are established by the state and can change, residents are encouraged to review current information from the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner.

For additional information and to see if you qualify, visit Homestead Property Tax Credit and Renter's Refund.

North Dakota provides a Primary Residence Credit for eligible homeowners who own and occupy a home in North Dakota as their primary residence.

Homeowners must apply for the credit through the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. Eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and the amount of the credit are determined by the state and may change from year to year.

For current information and to apply, visit the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner website.

Bond proceeds are legally restricted to the purposes authorized by voters. They cannot be transferred to the district's General Fund or used for unrelated operating expenses.

The bond resolution and election documents identify the purposes for which the funds may be spent. If approved, BPS would also continue its normal public financial reporting, School Board oversight, bidding and procurement requirements, and annual independent audit processes.

As projects move from design through bidding and construction, BPS will provide updates to the School Board and community regarding project scope, schedules, expenditures, and progress.

The proposal includes improvements designed to make schools safer and more accessible for students, staff, families, and visitors.

Depending on the school, improvements include secure entrances, accessibility upgrades, improved traffic and circulation, student support spaces, and renovations that address outdated building configurations.

Several BPS schools were constructed decades before today's accessibility standards.

The Long-Range Facilities Plan identified buildings where students, staff, families, and community members with mobility challenges cannot easily access all areas of the school.

Projects include improvements such as elevators, accessible restrooms, entrances, and other modifications intended to provide better access throughout district facilities.

Accessibility is both a facility issue and a student opportunity issue.

Students should be able to participate in learning and school activities throughout their buildings. Families and community members should also be able to access the schools they support.

Many older BPS facilities were constructed before modern accessibility expectations existed. Addressing these barriers is an important part of preserving and improving these schools for future generations.

Many BPS schools were built for a different era of education.

The proposal updates existing spaces so they better support how students learn today. Depending on the school, projects may improve classrooms, libraries, music areas, multipurpose rooms, student support spaces, physical education areas, and other instructional environments.

The goal is not to make schools extravagant. It is to make existing spaces more functional for today's students and educators.

A building can remain structurally sound while the spaces inside it no longer function well for today's educational programs.

Many BPS schools have been adapted repeatedly over several decades. Programs have changed, technology has changed, accessibility expectations have changed, and student services have expanded.

Renovating these facilities allows BPS to continue using existing community schools while making them more functional for current and future students.

No. The Long-Range Facilities Plan identified needs specific to each facility.

A school needing accessibility improvements may have a very different project from a school needing additional music space, library improvements, mechanical upgrades, or better student support areas.

The proposal is based on the identified needs of individual facilities rather than applying the same solution to every school.

The simple answer is yes. In 2013 the district had 1,332 students being served on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), in 2025 that number is now 2,185. That is 853 more students and a 64% increase.

We also have an increasing number of students who do not speak English as their first language. The programs also require smaller, more personal, learning spaces. Similar to needs within student support services.

No. Student learning happens in many different environments.

The Long-Range Facilities Plan identified needs involving classrooms as well as libraries, music, performing arts, physical education, student support services, multipurpose spaces, and other areas that contribute to a student's overall school experience.

A comprehensive education extends beyond traditional classroom instruction.

These programs help students develop communication, creativity, collaboration, wellness, confidence, and other skills reflected in BPS's Portrait of a Graduate.

In several schools, the spaces supporting these programs are undersized, outdated, or were originally designed for different purposes.

Adjusting attendance boundaries is one tool the district uses to help manage enrollment, and it is something we will continue to review as our community grows. However, in the case of the south side of Bismarck, particularly around Solheim and Moses Elementary, boundary changes alone do not fully address the situation.

Both schools are already serving large numbers of students and currently rely on portable classrooms to accommodate enrollment. Those portables are a clear indication that the buildings are already operating beyond their original capacity. Shifting boundaries in this area would often mean moving students from one full school to another that is also nearing capacity, which does not solve the underlying space needs.

We also recognize that the community has consistently expressed strong support for neighborhood schools. Families generally prefer that students attend the school closest to their home rather than being reassigned and bused to another part of town.

The facility plan connected to the referendum is designed to address growth where it is actually occurring, allowing schools in those areas to better serve the students already there while supporting continued growth in the community.

One of the goals of the facility plan is to enhance community use of our school facilities, particularly at the elementary level. In several schools, the plan includes the addition of multi-purpose spaces that provide more flexibility for both school and community activities.

During the school day, these spaces help address operational needs by improving lunch schedules and providing additional space for physical education, which reduces situations where two classes must share the same gym at the same time. This is common in a couple schools, one being Solheim.

Beyond the school day, these multi-purpose areas can also create additional capacity for after-school programming, which is often limited today due to space constraints in some buildings. This could support opportunities for enrichment activities, youth programming, and partnerships that serve students and families in the community. By designing spaces that serve multiple purposes, the district can better support students during the school day while also expanding opportunities for community use after school hours.

BPS operates a large portfolio of facilities, many of which have served Bismarck for generations.

The average age of district buildings is approximately 47 years, and several schools are considerably older. Bismarck High School, for example, has portions of the facility dating back more than 90 years.

Maintaining these community assets requires periodic reinvestment in roofs, mechanical systems, building infrastructure, and the spaces students use every day.

Yes. BPS invests millions of dollars each year maintaining and improving district facilities.

Regular maintenance has allowed many BPS schools to serve the community for decades. However, maintenance cannot indefinitely eliminate the need to replace aging building systems or renovate spaces that no longer meet current needs.

The Long-Range Facilities Plan helps the district distinguish between ongoing maintenance and larger capital improvements.

In many cases, renovating an existing school is more responsible and cost-effective than replacing it.

BPS schools are also important parts of established neighborhoods. Investing in existing facilities allows the district to preserve those community schools while addressing accessibility, safety, educational, and infrastructure needs.

BPS will continue maintaining its schools and completing projects through its Building Fund.

However, without bond funding, the district would need to prioritize projects over a much longer period. Some improvements would be delayed as available Building Fund dollars are balanced against roofs, mechanical systems, emergency repairs, and other ongoing capital needs.

The needs identified through the Long-Range Facilities Plan would remain, and construction costs and continued building deterioration could increase the eventual cost of completing the work.