FARGO (KFGO) – The Fargo City Commission will meet in a special session Monday morning to reconsider approval of the Mayor’s 2025 Preliminary Budget.
A spokesperson for the City of Fargo says Mayor Tim Mahoney is calling for the special meeting to fulfill the request of Commissioner Michelle Turnberg to reconsider her vote.
Mahoney presented his preliminary budget to commissioners two weeks ago, and the commission approved a revised preliminary budget by a vote of 3-2 on Monday. The $133 million budget is an increase of over 11% from last year.
Mahoney and Commissioners Turnberg and Denise Kolpack voted in favor to the preliminary budget while Commissioners John Strand and Dave Piepkorn voted against it.
Piepkorn has been vocal about his opposition to the budget and has called it “runaway spending.” Mahoney says the city budget team has methodically gone through financial statements and worked hard to scrutinize expenses.
Another point of contention in the budget was less funding for Hector International Airport. The airport recently broke ground on a new parking garage and plans a terminal expansion. The projects are expected to cost $200 million.
In a statement, Hector International Airport Executive Director Shawn Dobberstein says, “The recent removal of mill levy support for the Municipal Airport Authority and Hector International Airport will be discussed. Major funding of the generational projects currently underway may be in jeopardy.”
The special meeting will be held at Fargo City Commission chambers at 10 a.m.
The final budget must be completed by Oct. 7.
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