WEST FARGO, ND — West Fargo City Commissioners are two weeks away from finalizing the 2025 budget.
The current proposal has overall reduced the number of mills going into the 2025 year by 1.3. West Fargo City Administrator Dustin Scott says this was done through a number of cost-saving measures, which includes reducing cost of living adjustment pay for employees from 4% to 2.5%. The savings from the cost of living adjustment will be put towards the mill levy. With the increase of 0.8 mills going to the West Fargo Library, the mill levy is currently going down by 1.3 total mills.
The budget adds 19 new full time employees; which are dispersed through public works, police, and fire departments. Reductions total $567,000, prior to some estimates added by Monday’s meeting with commissioners. Overall, Scott estimates the city increased their city budget by approximately 12% without increasing mills.
“I’m really proud of our staff for identifying nearly a half-a-million dollars in additional expenditure reductions,” said Scott. “We are confident we are bringing forward a very responsible budget.”
The final budget will be brought before commissioners on October 7th. The official budget must be presented to the county by October 10th.
