At its August 4, 2025, meeting, the Fargo City Commission approved the Preliminary 2026 Budget. This document reflects months of planning, collaboration and public input as The City works to balance growing community needs with responsible fiscal management.
A public hearing on the budget will be held during the September 15 City Commission meeting. Final adoption of the 2026 budget is scheduled for September 29, 2025.
As with many municipalities, Fargo continues to face pressure from increasing service demands, rising operational costs and the need to offer competitive wages to attract and retain a qualified workforce. The 2026 budget also marks the first year under two major changes: the implementation of the state-imposed property tax revenue cap and the integration of the newly approved public safety sales tax.
Initial projections showed a $6.8 million deficit in the General Fund — about 4% of the total fund. In response, City leaders held an open budget workshop to facilitate direct conversations between Commissioners, department heads and members of the public. This collaborative effort helped identify preferred strategies to close the funding gap and arrive at a balanced preliminary budget.
Key assumptions in the 2026 Preliminary Budget include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, revenue and expense figures tied to the public safety sales tax, and property tax revenue limited to a 3% adjusted levy increase as mandated by the North Dakota Legislature.
The full 2026 Mayor’s Budget Synopsis Spreadsheet and 2026 Preliminary Budget Presentation are available for public review and download.
This page will be updated following final budget approval in September to reflect any revisions and to include the complete budget document and supporting materials.