FARGO(KFGO/KVRR) — Fargo City Commissioners voted to approve a balanced $140.6 million budget for 2026, which includes a full-time mayor starting in June 2026.
The commission voted to add the full-time mayor to the budget before it was approved. Both votes were 3-2 with Commissioners Michelle Turnberg and Dave Piepkorn voting no. Mayor Tim Mahoney is in his final term.
To balance the budget, the city will make job cuts, the majority of which are currently unfilled. It will also increase rates for MATBUS, waste, and recycling.
The budget includes a small property tax increase, and $5.8 million from the voter approved Public Safety Sales Tax.
“Long term, [I’m] a little concerned about the decrease in capital investments that will be a long-term issue,” Mahoney said. “I’m glad I don’t have to do the budget next year. I just think that the warning out there is that we really are holding tight on our capital investments and that will be the difficulty a large city has is to keep up with all the technology, software and equipment that you need.”
The commission also approved MATBUS’ elimination of Route 16 and Industrial Park On-Demand Service.
The West Acres Mall station will remain in service.
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