Funded Ratio
72.7%
actuarial assets / liabilities
Plan
Bismarck Police Plan
State
North Dakota
Funded Ratio
72.7%
Assets
$52M
Members
253
Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database
Bismarck Police Plan
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Bismarck Police Plan — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
C
Financial Health Grade
Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
Unfunded Liability
$20M
actuarial shortfall
Total Members
253
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.5%
net investment return
-1.4pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
11.9%
annualized, net of fees
ARC Payment
28.5%
of actuarially required contribution
How Bismarck Police Plan Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 72.7%
National avg
A ratio of 72.7% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability — plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 72.7% |
| 2023 | 69.0% |
| 2022 | 65.8% |
| 2021 | 62.8% |
| 2020 | 59.2% |
| 2019 | 59.3% |
| 2018 | 57.7% |
| 2017 | 56.4% |
| 2016 | 55.5% |
| 2015 | 54.2% |
| 2014 | 58.1% |
| 2013 | 57.7% |
| 2012 | 59.9% |
| 2011 | 61.4% |
| 2010 | 62.6% |
| 2009 | 66.2% |
| 2008 | 70.1% |
| 2007 | 70.1% |
| 2006 | 64.5% |
| 2005 | 65.2% |
What the Data Says About Bismarck Police Plan
Bismarck Police Plan reports a funded ratio of 72.7% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $52M in market assets against an unfunded liability of $20M. As a Police & Fire plan operating under North Dakota sponsorship, it covers 253 members (135 active contributors, 94 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.
A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 28.5% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 11.9%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.
For North Dakota taxpayers and plan members, the $20M unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Bismarck Police Plan rely on the full faith and credit of North Dakota — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.
Membership
135
Active Members
94
Retirees
253
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Police & Fire
- State
- North Dakota
- Market Assets
- $52M
- ARC Payment
- 28.5%
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Other North Dakota Plans
- North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System 75.8%
- North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement 68.6%
- Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan 54.4%
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bismarck Police Plan fully funded?
Bismarck Police Plan has a funded ratio of 72.7% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.
What happens if Bismarck Police Plan runs out of money?
Public pension plans like Bismarck Police Plan are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case North Dakota. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.
What does a funded ratio of 72.7% mean?
A funded ratio of 72.7% means that Bismarck Police Plan currently has assets equal to 72.7% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $20M. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Bismarck Police Plan compare to other public pensions?
Bismarck Police Plan is a Police & Fire plan in North Dakota serving 253 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Bismarck Police Plan's funded ratio of 72.7% places it near the national average.
How many members does Bismarck Police Plan have?
Bismarck Police Plan covers 253 total members, including 135 active employees and 94 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability — when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
What is the ARC payment percentage for Bismarck Police Plan?
Bismarck Police Plan pays 28.5% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov