Public safety sales tax spending plan approved 4-1 by Fargo City Commissioners

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo City Commissioners vote to advance the plans for using the 1/4 cent sales tax for public safety by a vote of 4-1, even though dozens of firefighters are not on board.

When Commissioner Michelle Turnberg asked the nearly two dozen firefighters in attendance how many were happy with the proposal, no one raised their hand.

The president of Fargo Firefighters Local 642 told commissioners that their goal in starting the campaign was to achieve equal pay but says he has problems with the pay plan.

He also says they made it clear to voters that revenue collected would not be used to pay down past debt.

That was removed from the proposal for spending the $8 million a year on average approved by commissioners but Turnberg still voted against the overall plan.

“If we want to leave a legacy of service rather than skepticism, then we must use these funds exactly as voters believed we would. To pay the firefighters better, to hire more police officers who protect Fargo every single day,” said Turnberg.

Mayor Tim Mahoney responded, “This is a great start. I think some people aren’t happy it’s all of what they want but you also have to think we have responsibility to the rest of our employees as well and to the city to make a budget.”

The sales tax vote was passed with around 70% support in November after police and fire took it upon themselves to get the issue on the ballot.

The increases in pay will begin on July 7 and commissioners will revisit the issue each year for the next 20 years.