(FARGO, ND) – The expansion and renovation project at Fargo’s Hector International Airport may be headed towards a snag.
Rick Berg, a member of the city’s Municipal Airport Authority, said the future lies in the hands of Fargo city leadership.
“We spent months and months pulling people together on the federal level, on the state level and the city level, to expand the terminal and build a parking ramp,” he said on WDAY Radio’s Jay Thomas Show Wednesday. “And about three weeks ago, it was a real celebration because everyone was there and, and it was an exciting day, exciting day for Fargo and our whole region.”
Then Berg said some news came to light last week.
“All of a sudden, I feel like we’ve kind of been ambushed because the city’s budget is a little tight,” he said. “I think there’s an idea they can raise the mill levy on the Fargo residents to cover city funding if they reduce the mill levy on the airport, which, you know, is their economic engine for the community.”
Berg said the project could’ve been changed before starting.
“When it comes to government entities, they know where they are financially well in advance,” he said. “These are things that were known months ago. If they weren’t, kind of, shame on them. But you’re right. It’s like if this was going to be a tool to help fund other city spending, I wish we would’ve known about it two or three months ago, and we would’ve delayed this construction until we knew we had everyone on board and supporting the spending needs that we have to complete the project.”
As for the future of the project, more will be known when the City of Fargo presents its budget. Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney will be presenting the 2025 Preliminary Budget today at noon at Fargo City Hall.
