Officials Head Back to Drawing Board After Fargodome Measure Fails
This is the second such measure voters in Fargo have rejected.
FARGO (KVRR) – Two tax increase measures aimed at funding improvements in the community earned the approval of Fargo voters on Election Day. The third – an attempt to secure additional money for renovations to the Fargodome – wasn’t so lucky.
“I think part of what influenced that was tax fatigue, basically,” said Mayor Tim Mahoney. “They had three tax items on the ballots, and for most people, they say, ‘I’ll pass one or two but I won’t vote for three.'”
The measure would have increased sales tax in the city by a quarter of a percent for the next twenty years. Fargodome general manager Rob Sobolik acknowledged the disappointment.
“We have a lot of dedicated staff that I get the privilege of working with here at the Fargodome who would have loved to have a different result.” said Sobolik.
He also added, though, that it is rightfully the voters’ decision at the end of the day.
“The building is owned and operated by the city of Fargo, so it is owned by the taxpayers. It is owned by the citizens of Fargo.” said Sobolik.
Those involved with the Fargodome plans indicated that the work to redesign a funding strategy would likely begin in earnest in January.
