Fargo Commission ignores citizen input, passes 11% budget increase

In a 3-2 vote, the Fargo City Commission approved a 2025 budget that grows 11% over this year’s budget and provides 4.5% raises for city staff. Mayor Tim Mahoney claimed the budget somehow doesn’t raise taxes even as it grows by $13 million over last year. This is completely disingenuous considering the budget relies on property valuation increases to collect more money. This kind of gaslighting is what’s fueling the statewide initiative to abolish the property tax.

Mayor Mahoney then lectured the commission and Fargo residents, telling them to “get serious,” “actively discuss the facts,” and don’t “cause fear or incite rumors.” He told commissioners, “You are elected to do the right thing for the city, regardless of your political beliefs.” What he really means is, his motives are righteous and good, he’s looking out for what’s best for the city (whatever that means) and those opposing his budget are playing politics. The truth is, they’re all playing politics — it’s inherent in their job. It’s why they are chosen through these things called political campaigns.

Mahoney also defended the 4.5% raises for city staff, portraying them as poor public servants who have sacrificed their lives for the city by working for low pay and subject to mean politicians threatening to cut the city budget. This is another popular liberal response to government budget cutting: we have to remain competitive! Our employees will all leave for greener pastures if we don’t act now!

Of course, it’s absurd. Local governments use this argument against their taxpayers and conspire to produce an upward cycle of public employee salaries. “We have to compete with West Fargo!” says Fargo. “We have to compete with Fargo!” says Grand Forks.” “We have to compete with Grand Forks!” says West Fargo. And the cycle continues.

Mahoney downplayed the impact of the city budget on taxpayers saying it only represents 20% of the total property tax bill for each resident. “It’s the city of Fargo that plows the streets; it’s the city of Fargo that takes care of your water,” he said. Mahoney is using popular core functions of the city to defend his budget while hiding the fact that spending on other priorities like communications and the Downtown Engagement Center are what’s really driving the increase in property taxes.

This was the basis of our campaign to fund Fargo needs, not wants. Fargo residents used our website to send over 1000 emails to the Mayor and Commissioners urging them to keep city budget growth to the rate of inflation. Unfortunately, the Mayor and Commissioners  Denise Kolpack and John Strand ignored those emails and voted to approve the final budget. Commissioners Michelle Turnberg and Dave Piepkorn voted no.

Instead of building on their success last meeting eliminating the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department, Commissioners Peipkorn and Turnberg failed to offer any amendments to cut the budget Monday night, choosing instead to simply vote “no.” They didn’t even offer a second for a motion from Strand to cut an additional $600,000 out of the budget, allowing it to die without a discussion. Lack of support for his amendment allowed Strand to eventually vote “yes” on the final budget, perhaps a strategic miscalculation from the conservative members of the commission.

To be clear, Peipkorn was the only commissioner to voice concern for the taxpayers during the meeting, saying, “I hear a lot of conversation about a lot of people, but I don’t’ hear very much about the taxpayer, and they’re our bosses, and what can they afford? Especially people on a fixed income. The average person in Fargo sees an eleven percent increase in our budget and goes, I’m not getting an eleven percent increase in my ability to pay for my property taxes.”

Overall, it was a healthy debate on the city budget, much more than the mayor and city staff probably expected or wanted. Over 200 Fargoans sent emails to the commission thanks to American Experiment North Dakota’s effort. Now it’s up to voters to hold them accountable at the next opportunity.