FARGO, ND – The Fargo City Commission has approved usage of a new voter-approved tax to support the city’s police and fire departments.
In a 4-1 vote, the Commission signed off on the Public Safety Sales Tax Plan.
Commissioner Michelle Turnberg was the lone vote against the plan.
“My biggest concern is that we’ve gotten away from what our priorities should be,” Turnberg said during a Tuesday night commission meeting.
“Public safety is not optional. Fire, police, water and street – these are the core city services that a city must provide, and they should be fully budgeted each year as a matter of basic responsibility. They should not require a special tax just to get by.”
During the 2024 election, voters authorized collection of a .25% municipal sales tax to shore up public safety.
The tax kicked in this April and will continue to be in place for 20 years.
The sales tax will be used to finance fire and police operations, equipment and facilities.
City Administrator Michael Redlinger told commissioners that the utilization of the revenues is multifaceted – with 80 percent devoted to the ongoing costs of new and updated aspects of the public safety departments, and 20 percent for other uses.
