BISMARCK—Gov. Doug Burgum has appointed Brian Kroshus to serve as North Dakota’s next tax commissioner. Kroshus will serve out the remaining year of the unexpired four-year term of current Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger, who is resigning effective Jan. 3, 2022.
Kroshus has been a member of the Public Service Commission for just under five years, having been appointed to the PSC by Burgum on Feb. 28, 2017. He was subsequently elected by voters in 2018 and re-elected in 2020.
Kroshus previously was a division leader and executive team member for Lee Enterprises, including serving as group publisher for Mandan-based Lee Agri-Media, the nation’s largest network of agricultural newspapers across a 15-state region, and as publisher of the Bismarck Tribune from 2005 to 2015.
“With his combination of private sector experience in leading a complex business operation and public sector experience in looking out for the best interests of consumers, Brian Kroshus is well-suited to fairly and effectively administer the tax laws of North Dakota.” Gov. Doug Burgum
“With his combination of private sector experience in leading a complex business operation and public sector experience in looking out for the best interests of consumers, Brian Kroshus is well-suited to fairly and effectively administer the tax laws of North Dakota,” Burgum said.
Kroshus will begin leading the Office of State Tax Commissioner Jan. 4, 2022. The agency currently has budgetary authority for 118 permanent team members and hires about 25 additional team members on a temporary basis for each income tax filing season.
“Treating taxpayers with fairness, transparency, and efficiency will be my top priority, understanding that this office and its duties are administered with the people’s money." Brian Kroshus, newly appointed Tax Commissioner
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the highly capable team in the Office of State Tax Commissioner and look forward to serving North Dakota citizens in this new capacity,” Kroshus said. “Treating taxpayers with fairness, transparency, and efficiency will be my top priority, understanding that this office and its duties are administered with the people’s money."
Kroshus, a Fargo native, earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and economics from North Dakota State University in 1987. He spent 10 years with Forum Communications in Fargo before joining the Bismarck Tribune in 1997. He was promoted to group publisher for Lee Agri-Media in 2004.
Kroshus has served on the board of directors of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, Bismarck-Mandan Development Association and the United Way, and on the board of trustees for the Bismarck State College Foundation, Sanford Health Foundation and Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation.
The PSC consists of three commissioners, each elected to six-years terms with one commissioner up for election every two years. Kroshus’ term was set to expire in 2026. His portfolio for the PSC was gas and electric economic regulation, pipeline safety and damage prevention, and weights and measures.
Other members of the PSC are Julie Fedorchak, chair, whose term expires in 2022, and Randy Christmann. Christmann’s term expires in 2024. No replacement has yet been named for Kroshus’ position on the PSC.
