Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 09.29.2025
In case you missed the September 29, 2025, Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.
City Commission Approves Final 2026 Budget
A public hearing was held during the September 15 City Commission meeting to give residents the opportunity to provide input on the 2026 Preliminary Budget and recommended tax levies.
The City Commission considered the 2026 Final Budget during its meeting on Monday, September 29. After a presentation from City Administrator Michael Redlinger and Finance Director Susan Thompson, Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the Final Budget.
The Final Budget was balanced with $140.69 million in revenues and $140.69 million in expenses. For more information, please visit FargoND.gov/Budget.
Fargo Mayor to Become Full-time Position
Mayor of Fargo is currently a part-time position. On Monday night, the City Commission voted 3-2 to transition the Mayor’s role to a full-time position beginning June 1, 2026.
The Mayor’s salary would increase commensurately with the change to full-time. The 2026 Final Budget includes $25,000 for that purpose.
City Commissioners Approve MATBUS Changes
The City of Fargo Transit Department – MATBUS – provided the community with an opportunity to comment on changes to bus fares, routes and services during the September 2 City Commission meeting.
The changes are due to a rise in operational costs, along with the stagnation of state and federal revenue streams that support the metro area’s transit services. MATBUS staff have researched the changes to ensure they affect the smallest number of riders possible.
After receiving feedback from residents, the City Commission voted 5-0 on Monday, September 29, to approve the following changes that were recommended by the MATBUS Coordination Committee:
• Route 16: The change eliminates Route 16.
• Industrial Park On-Demand Service: The change eliminates the Industrial Park On-Demand Service.
• Route 14: The change adjusts Route 14 to return to downtown Fargo (Ground Transportation Center) via 4th Street – instead of the current alignment returning on 10th Street – to assist serving the area no longer served by Route 16 inbound.
• Route 15: The change increases Route 15 from a 60-minute route to a 90-minute route to improve on-time performance and adjust alignment slightly to serve the 13th Avenue South Cash Wise with the elimination of Route 16.
The City Commission previously voted 5-0 on September 2 to approve the fare changes, which include:
• Single-ride fares to increase to $2 for adults and $1 for youth/elderly/disabled. They are currently $1.50 for adults and $0.75 for youth/elderly/disabled.
• Addition of a 7-Day Pass for $10.
The route, service and fare changes will take effect January 1, 2026.
Fire Prevention Week Highlights Lithium-ion Battery Safety
October 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week. This year, the National Fire Protection Association and the Fargo Fire Department are focusing on lithium-ion battery safety.
The Fire Department wants residents to know that while lithium-ion batteries are efficient, they can also overheat and even catch fire. Residents are encouraged to follow three safe battery practices to help prevent fires:
• BUY only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery look for a safety certification mark.
• CHARGE devices safely. Always use cables that came with the device. Don’t overcharge devices. Once fully charged, remove the device from the charger.
• RECYCLE batteries responsibly. Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or traditional recycling bins as they could start a fire. Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location.
Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack, who serves as the City Commission’s liaison to the Fire Department, shared this information during the Liaison Commissioner Assignment Update portion of Monday’s meeting.