West Fargo Police and Fire department heads share details on upcoming half-cent sales tax ballot measure

 (West Fargo, ND) -- The heads of the West Fargo Police and Fire Departments are joining WDAY's The Coffee Club to clarify details on the half-cent sales tax ballot measure voters will see on November 8th.

West Fargo Police Chief Denis Otterness and West Fargo Fire Chief Dan Fuller say the sales tax would be used to supplement the budgets of both departments, facilitate the funding needed to maintain staffing levels, constructing the new fire station, and other department related expenditures. 

"[The] Fire department and Police department need to expand to provide adequate public safety, "said Police Chief Otterness, "[The budget] is earmarked to supplement the budgets of the police and fire departments. It can't be used by other departments."

Both chiefs say they are seeing a dramatic increase in calls due to dramatic growth in West Fargo's population. Chief Otterness says their call loads have nearly tripled over twelve years, while maintaining the same level of minimum staffing. Chief Fuller says they are experiencing similar work-load increases, comparing their previous 300 calls for service per year to now roughly 3,000.

You can learn more about the half-cent sales tax ballot measure by clicking here.