Town Hall · Fargo

Fargo, ND town hall & government

Fargo spent $461.8 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $3,513 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Fargo's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Fargo

Tim MahoneyMayorSince 2015 Wikidata ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Fargo's money goes

Spent
$461.8 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$3,513
typical North Dakota cities: $2,864
Long-term debt
$935.5 million
$7,117 per resident
Roads & transportation
$93.7 million20%
Sewer & trash
$75.4 million16%
Water & other utilities
$47.3 million10%
Police
$28.1 million6%
Interest on debt
$26 million6%
Parks & libraries
$23.5 million5%
Fire
$21.1 million5%
Health & welfare
$17.6 million4%
Administration & buildings
$13.8 million3%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$6.1 million1%
Housing & development
$5.5 million1%
Other
$103.8 million22%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 22%
  • Sales taxes 18%
  • From the state 17%
  • Interest, fines & other 17%
  • Property taxes 9%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • Utility sales 7%
  • Other taxes & licenses 2%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Fargo

Full-time staff
1,038
286 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$86,300
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
193
and 131 full-time firefighters
Police
219 full-time
Roads & transportation
198 full-time6 part
Parks & libraries
80 full-time222 part
Fire
135 full-time
Health & welfare
110 full-time46 part
Administration & buildings
111 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
77 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
54 full-time2 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
7 full-time
Other
47 full-time6 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Fargo Public School District 1

Fargo's K–12 school district, shared with Briarwood, Frontier, North River, Prairie Rose and Stanley. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$18,846
North Dakota: $16,642
Students
11,484
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$91 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from North Dakota districts overall: 40% local, 46% state, 14% federal

  • Local 41%
  • State 46%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $18,846 per pupil, $11,632 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Fargo: West Fargo Public School District 6 ($14,624 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Fargo pay

Typical tax bill
$3,492
a year · North Dakota typical $2,468
Effective rate
1.24%
of home value · North Dakota 0.99%
Typical home value
$281,900
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Fargo's government

🏛️ Official websiteci.fargo.nd.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Fargo →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Fargo

Fargo is represented in Congress by Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak. Kelly Armstrong is governor.

All of Fargo's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Fargo

North Dakota · ND
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01