Fargo Legislative Priorities

By Mike Williams
Contributing Writer

Flood Protection/Comprehensive Water Management

Fargo’s highest legislative priority is to secure the state appropriation for area flood protection for this biennium and future years to supplement the local funds and leverage any eligible federal funds for comprehensive flood protection in Fargo and the Red River Basin. The city has been and is continuing to make tens of millions of dollars in improvements to flood protection, that include removal of dozens of houses from vulnerable areas, improving and extending drains, requiring higher elevation prior to building permits, and building dikes to reduce sandbagging.  In the Red River Valley, it’s going to take many years and great cooperation to concurrently improve and develop more comprehensive basin-wide water management that includes Devils Lake stabilization, basin-wide retention to conserve water and recharging aquifers in droughts, while developing flood protection, mitigation and a Fargo-Moorhead diversion.

Property Tax Relief/Education Funding

Quality public education is paramount to economic expansion and a good quality of life. Fargo supports legislation to dedicate more state funds for education and property tax relief. Of our local property tax, over 65% is for the Fargo School District. Until last session, North Dakota had one of the highest property tax rates in the country. Reduction in property taxes is possible due to diversifying and supplementing our schools revenue sources through an increase of state funding for education that is currently 70% of the cost of education. Dedicating more state funding for education helps balance taxes as the state has more diverse revenue sources than school districts that have until recently been primarily dependent on property taxes.

Infrastructure/Water Delivery

Additional state support for roads and other infrastructure in the energy producing areas as well as our need for comprehensive water management in the Red River Basin. Managing and enhancing access and delivery of quality water. Secure water rights for North Dakota from the Missouri River. Ninety-five percent of North Dakota’s fresh water is held above the Garrison Dam in the Missouri River. It’s estimated the needs for the energy industry in the state as well as for the eastern part of the state, would be equivalent to two inches off the top of Lake Sakakawea. Water is a key to sustainable growth in North Dakota, it is a precious resource, we can’t live without it, and we need to manage it and conserve it as best we can.

DOT/Transit

Additional state funding will help leverage local revenue sources and help match any available Federal highway/transit funds. Metro Area Transit is proving transit plays a major role in improving quality of life, enhances efficiency, lowers emissions, while reducing congestion on our streets. An additional benefit is more people riding the bus means there are more available parking spaces for those that choose to drive.  Metro Area Transit has added and expanded routes and more than tripled ridership in the last few years. MAT had over 2 million riders in 2010, and over 30% of the riders are under age 30. 

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[Editor’s Note: Mike Williams is in his seventh year as a Fargo City Commissioner, and is closely involved in many areas of city government. Departmental liaisons: Fire, Information Services; committee liaisons: Metropolitan Council of Governments, Library Building, Traffic Technical Advisory, Parking, Utility, Cable Review, Metro Area Transit Coordinating Board, Renewable Energy and Conservation; board liaisons: Library, Auditorium.]