Fargo City Commission Votes 3-2 To Allow Sales Tax Measure for Fire and Police in November

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo voters are getting yet another tax measure to vote on in November and it comes after a lively discussion at city hall.

Fargo Fire and Fargo Police would benefit from a change to the Home Rule Charter to allow a quarter cent sales tax to be used exclusively for their operations.

The sales tax would be in place for 20 years and would raise $8 million annually.

Mayor Tim Mahoney voted against it saying voters are already being asked to approve a lodging tax and Fargodome remodel and expansion tax.

He suggested waiting until 2026.

Commissioner Dave Piepkorn was the other “no” vote.

“Two departments get all this and it ties our hands, that’s what we do we decide how to do the budget, but now they’ve intervened to set the budget just for themselves. Just two departments. How embarrassing,” said Piepkorn.

Commissioner John Strand said, “I’m embarrassed that our cops and our firefighters and our employees and our workforce need to come up with creative ways to fund their livelihoods when we haven’t done adequately.”

West Fargo voters passed a half cent sales tax for police and fire in 2022.