Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fargo board approves preliminary 2026–27 budgets; no change to mill levies
Summary
The board approved preliminary fiscal-year 2026–27 budgets across multiple funds, with administrators presenting a balanced preliminary budget, a 4% valuation assumption and increased capital/equipment lines to address deferred needs; final budget certification remains subject to adjustments before September.
The Fargo Board of Education approved preliminary fiscal-year 2026–27 budgets for the general, building, special assessments, special levy, debt service and nutrition services funds and heard administrators stress that the numbers are preliminary and will be revisited before final certification.
Planning chair Greg Clark said the preliminary package is an early version that the full board will review at least once more before the final September certification. Administrators told the board they used a 4% valuation increase for planning purposes and kept mill levies unchanged in the preliminary presentation. They also included higher equipment and facilities spending to address deferred maintenance and long-postponed capital work.
Board members discussed fund-balance levels and the usefulness of particular metrics. Robin noted the ending fund balance at about 16% and supported cautious increases in reserve levels. Greg and others suggested the board consider targeting reductions in administrative and transportation costs to improve long-term fiscal health.
The board moved and approved the preliminary budgets by roll-call vote; the approval lets administration continue refining numbers and obtain final state aid and property-valuation figures before the final budget submission.
Administrators said they will return with updated numbers as state aid and county valuation figures are finalized; the board emphasized that the preliminary approval does not lock in final mill levies or expenditures and that further adjustments will occur before certification.
