FARGO, ND – The Fargo City Commission has approved the implementation of the city’s Public Safety Sales Tax Plan.
The Commission voted 4-1 to approve the plan, with Michelle Turnberg voting against it.
“My biggest concern is that we’ve gotten away from what our priorities should be,” she said. “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.”
On November 4, 2024, citizens of Fargo voted to authorize collection of a one-quarter percent municipal sales tax. This tax commenced April 1, 2025, and will expire on March 31, 2045. The sales tax will be utilized by The City of Fargo for fire and police operations, equipment and facilities.
City Administrator Michael Redlinger told commissioners that the utilization of the revenues is multifaceted – with 80 percent being used for the ongoing costs of new and updated aspects of the public safety departments and 20 percent being for other uses.
