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Town Hall · Bemidji

Bemidji spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Bemidji’s city government spent $28.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,803 per resident. Water and other utilities ($9.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$28.8M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,803
In 2022: $1,537, more than 98% of 51 similar cities
Long-term debt
$53.1M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
96
full-time · 57 part-time · March payroll $928,147 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,300
1.16% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Bemidji is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,537 per resident, more than 98% of 51 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer35% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Bemidji Public School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Bemidji’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,803 per resident a year, or $4.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 25%From the state 25%Utility sales 24%Property taxes 14%Interest, fines & other 4%From the federal government 4%Sales taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $15.8 million; interest on debt $2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $55.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,537 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

Bemidji’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,537 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $971, and the middle half spent $700–$1,214. Bemidji spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $700–$1,214Median $971Bemidji

Includes sewer and trash ($3.5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
51

Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bemidji itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Bemidji reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$23.8 million
2023$0
2024$28.8 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,537 · 2023: $0 · 2024: $1,803.

City staff
96

full-time in March 2025, up from 93 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,300 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Northern Township$2,971
Turtle River Township$2,879
Bemidji Township$2,363
Grant Valley Township$2,301
Bemidji$2,300
Eckles Township$2,240
Frohn Township$2,159
$2,300
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$198,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bemidji’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Bemidji’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bemidji →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bemidji

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See ci.bemidji.mn.us for Bemidji’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bemidji yet.ci.bemidji.mn.us ↗
Who works for Bemidji

One full-time city employee for every 166 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (15,946).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police37 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings9 + 12 pt
Roads & transportation12
Fire8 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries6 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash9
Water & other utilities4
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Other9 + 31 pt
96
full-time
57
part-time
$928,147
payroll for March 2025
$11.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$103,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
35
sworn police officers
8
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Bemidji didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Bemidji Public School District

Bemidji’s K–12 school district, shared with Alaska Township, Bemidji Township, Buzzle Township, Durand Township, Eckles Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bemidji →
$15,715
per pupil · MN $17,091
4,812
students
$36 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,715 per pupil, $9,993 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 18%State 69%Federal 13%

Minnesota districts overall: 30% local, 62% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Bemidji’s votes are counted by county

Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Bemidji alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Beltrami County’s results.

President · Beltrami County’s results24,874 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican51.9%12,898 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.2%11,493 votes

Others: 1.9% (483 votes).

Most votes in Beltrami County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Bemidji lies in Beltrami County. Every 2024 race in Beltrami County is on the county’s page.

Beltrami County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Bemidji

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bemidji.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.bemidji.mn.us ↗
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Bidal Duran
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Steve Green
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Pete Stauber
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota
    Amy KlobucharTina Smith

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Bemidji compares with the towns next door

Bemidji spent $1,537 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Bemidji Township: $170 per resident (2022)Northern Township: $146 per resident (2022)Eckles Township: $329 per resident (2022)Grant Valley Township: $199 per resident (2022)Frohn Township: $169 per resident (2022)Turtle River Township: $213 per resident (2022)Bemidji TownshipNorthern TownshipEckles TownshipGrant Valley TownshipFrohn TownshipTurtle River TownshipBemidji
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Northern Township$146$2,971
Frohn Township$169$2,159
Bemidji Township$170$2,363
Grant Valley Township$199$2,301
Turtle River Township$213$2,879
Eckles Township$329$2,240
Bemidji$1,537$2,300

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Bemidji’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.bemidji.mn.us ↗

Questions about Bemidji’s government

How much does Bemidji spend per resident?

About $1,803 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,537 was more than 98% of 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bemidji?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,300 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.bemidji.mn.us.

Who runs Bemidji’s government?

See ci.bemidji.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bemidji yet.

How did Bemidji vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Bemidji alone. Beltrami County, where 100% of Bemidji lies, voted Trump 51.9%, Harris 46.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Bemidji?

96 full-time and 57 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $928,147 (about $11.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Bemidji in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Steve Green) and State House District 2A (Bidal Duran). The House district also covers 38 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Bemidji?

The next posted meeting is Planning Board on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 pm in City Hall, 317 4th Street NW, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Bemidji’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →