Fargo staff present detailed plan to spend quarter‑cent public safety sales tax on pay, hires and facilities

City of Fargo staff on May 14 laid out a spending and implementation plan for the quarter‑cent public safety sales tax voters approved Nov. 4, 2024, proposing market adjustments to sworn pay, new sworn and civilian hires, technology and facility investments and a set‑aside for existing public‑safety debt. The administration estimated the quarter cent will generate approximately $8.5 million in a full year and said transfers into the general fund will begin in mid‑June; the commission is scheduled to consider the plan on May 27 and no vote was taken at the May 14 presentation.

Susan (staff member) said, “we estimate that a quarter cent equals approximately 8 and a half million in 2025,” and that because the tax began April 1 the city will collect roughly 75% of a full year in 2025. The proposal treats about 80% of the revenue as the primary usage — ongoing costs such as pay, staffing, equipment and facilities — and 20% as secondary usage for existing public‑safety debt service and capital contributions.

The plan would change the city’s public‑safety pay structure and provide market adjustments for sworn employees: Jill Minette, Human Resources Director, told commissioners “All sworn employees will receive at least a 3% market adjustment” as they move into the new structure and summarized average…