FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn says the ballot proposal to increase the sales tax to support public safety will complicate the budget process.
The fire and police unions want a quarter-cent sales tax. It would raise an estimated $8 million a year and be in effect for 20 years. Piepkorn and Mayor Mahoney voted against the idea, which was approved 3-to-2.
“We’re going to set our budget in about a month and so we can’t you can’t manage a budget by this way,” Piepkorn said. “It’ll be interesting to see what the voters think. To me, that’s what commissioners are for.”
Piepkorn says he fears that Fargo voters will be overwhelmed in November when they consider the public safety tax, a lodging tax, and a tax that would go towards remodeling the Fargodome.
“The Fargodome, the Convention and Visitors Bureau tax and the Firefighter Union tax … Then on top of that, the Mayor proposed an 11% increase in sole property taxes are going up plus a utility tax. So that’s five new taxes and I think the average person is gonna just be overwhelmed and react negatively. ”
The public safety sales tax is estimated to bring in $8 million a year over 20 years. It would require a super majority of at least 60% as would the proposal for expansion and remodeling of Fargodome. The lodging tax would need voter-approval of 50%.
The Mayor’s initial budget was rejected when commissioners reconsidered the $133 million proposal and negotiations continue.
Piepkorn says he’s pushing for elimination of the office of diversity, equity and inclusion and the engagement center. He also wants cuts in the city’s communications department.
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