FARGO, ND — Several Fargo City Commissioners vowed to keep the cost of the 2025 budget net neutral, with one arguing for more aggressive cuts.
After previously voting 3-2 in favor of the City’s 2025 preliminary budget, a special meeting was called by commissioners to reconsider the proposal. Three motions passed at the Monday meeting; first was to split the proposed votes between Hector International Airport’s assigned mills and Fargo’s budget, second the approval of two mills assigned to the airport, and third was voting on locking in the total number of mills the city could place on residents to 55.
Each of the Commissioners shared their intention to keep the mills net neutral going into the 2025 budget but did not reach an agreement on how Fargo leadership aims to get there. The current path forward would reduce the cost of living adjustment pay increases allotted to city employees from 4.5% to 3.5% and find an additional $400,000 in spending reductions. However, Strand, Kolpack, and Turnberg vowed to continue going through the budget with the hope of finding other items not in congruence with the “core mission” of Fargo.
“I want to meet with our budget team and go through aspects of our budget that I will see that I think are non-essential, core-mission-type budget items,” said Strand. “The community won’t be happy if we are pulling in our belts. I would rather pull in our belts and sustain our workforce and reinforce our workforce and thank our workforce and keep our workforce there.”
Commissioner Piepkorn argued for aggressive cuts to several programs. This includes the elimination of DEI and the Downtown Engagement Center, along with additional cuts to the city’s transportation and health departments. He pushed commissioners to reduce spending to a total of 53 or 52 mills.
“Do you know who will rejoice at that? The taxpayers. The taxpayers are extremely fatigued, especially with an 11% increase to your budget this year. That’s embarrassing, “said Piepkorn.
City Commissioners said they vowed to push for additional cuts so the cost of living salary adjustments could remain close to the previously suggested 4.5%.
The proposal passed with approval from Commissioners Kolpack, Piepkorn, and Turnberg. Mayor Mahoney and Commissioner Strand voted against it.
