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Fargo officials outline case to extend 1¢ infrastructure sales tax ahead of June 2026 ballot
Summary
City staff told commissioners that extending Fargo's 1¢ infrastructure sales tax would fund long-term water, wastewater and street projects, keep utility rates lower for residents, and buy down costly special assessments; staff will return with ballot language by mid-March for a June 2026 vote.
City staff on Feb. 19 presented commissioners with a detailed review of how Fargo's infrastructure sales tax has been used and why officials want to extend the 1¢ portion on the June 2026 ballot.
During the presentation, staff said the infrastructure sales tax generated approximately $34,000,000 in 2024 and funds core projects across streets, water and wastewater that would otherwise raise costs for property owners and utility customers. "In 2024, the infrastructure sales tax generated approximately $34,000,000," said Speaker 2.
Why it matters: Staff framed the extension as a funding-stability measure for long-lived, multi-generational projects. The sales tax, they said, reduces the share of street reconstruction costs passed to property owners (examples given where special assessments were reduced to about $5,600 from tens of thousands), funds pavement preservation citywide, and supports water and wastewater projects that keep Fargo's household utility bills lower than many peers.
Key projects and numbers: Presenters described several costly capital projects funded in part by the sales tax: - A 45th Street interceptor project, cited as roughly $63,500,000, added a third major…
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