Interview with Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn reacting to Governor Kelly Armstrong’s comments on caps
(FARGO, ND) – Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn calls the leadership of Governor Kelly Armstrong ‘unimpressive.’
On Wednesday, Armstrong responded to concerns Piepkorn has about the Governor’s property tax relief and reform plans by saying, ““I could cap the state. I could get rid of the money for the Fargo airport, for the Red River water supply. I could get rid of the challenge grants for NDSU. I could get rid of the extra money for the homeless problem that exists. We could do that. I think Dave Piepkorn’s constituents would probably have a problem with that. We have to balance our budget every year. We could give Social Services funding back to the municipality. We could get rid of the 80 percent we pay for K-12 education. I’ve learned a long time ago probably to not take criticism from people I wouldn’t take advice from.”
Piepkorn expresses frustration with the comments Armstrong made.
“To me that sounds like he (Armstrong) is threatening us,” he said. “To me, when a Governor talks like that, I start losing faith very quickly.”
Piepkorn says caps ‘are unacceptable.’
“I hope the legislature looks at other options, besides that, because it would have a huge impact,” he said. “When he (Armstrong) starts threatening Fargo, that’s disappointing.”
