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Moorhead council sets 2026 preliminary tax rate at 5.58% after heated debate over fire staffing
Summary
After hours of debate focused on the Morehead Fire Department's staffing needs and a possible SAFER grant, the Moorhead City Council on Sept. 22 set a preliminary 2026 tax rate ceiling of 5.58% and asked staff to continue workshopping ways to lower the final levy before the December vote.
The Moorhead City Council on Sept. 22 voted 6-2 to set a preliminary tax-rate ceiling of 5.58% for 2026 after lengthy debate centered on adding firefighters and whether to pursue federal SAFER grant funding.
The preliminary levy action allows the city to certify a maximum levy to the county by the Sept. 30 state deadline; final budget adoption is scheduled for Dec. 8. The discussion focused on three budget scenarios presented by Finance Director Jennica Flanagan that ranged from a base budget to an expanded plan that would add a training coordinator and up to seven new fire-department positions if the city applies for and receives a SAFER grant from FEMA.
Council members spent most of the evening discussing tradeoffs between fully funding new firefighters locally and applying for a federal SAFER grant that would cover 75% of wages for specified hires for a limited period. Council member Deb White said she…
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