MOORHEAD (KFGO) – The Moorhead City Council unanimously approved the 2026 tax levy budget and capital improvement plan.
Finance Director Jenica Flanagan says budget priorities included wages and benefits, wastewater utility improvements, community and economic development, and public safety staffing.
The estimated tax rate increase of 3.89% was approved. Flanagan says a family living in a home valued at $247,700 would see an estimated property tax increase of $7.24 per month.
In addition to the property tax increase, Moorhead residents will also see rate increases in wastewater, stormwater, sanitation and forestry fees. In total, an average household will pay about $11.90 more in taxes and fees each month.
City Council member Deb White believes they were able to balance the needs of the city with concerns from the public.
“We heard from a lot of citizens that enough is enough and we need to make sure that we are supporting our public safety workers. At the same time, we also hear from people everyday that are concerned about rising property tax burdens and the impact it will have on their family,” White explains. “I’m glad that we were able to get our property tax increase as low as possible, but not at the expense of our firefighters.”
The 2026 budget includes funding for up to six more firefighters. Moorhead resident and a firefighter of 25 years, Chris Piper, says a report from the International Association of Firefighters shows the Moorhead Fire Department staffing has not kept up with the city’s growth, which has put a strain on staff.
“Relying on calling back off-duty Moorhead firefighters, mutual aid responses from volunteer departments or a full-time department, is not adequate staffing and deployment of resources. Moorhead needs more firefighters to staff its current apparatus inventory and Moorhead needs a third fire station,” Piper said. “These men will give their life for you. We owe it to these firefighters and their families to support them with the equipment and staffing to do their job as safely as possible.”
blaze at Country Heritage development (Don Haney, KFGO News)
Moorhead resident Guadalupe Santoya also urged the city council to hire more firefighters. He says he saw first-hand the importance of first responders when his home was destroyed by fire last year.
Santoya says his 12-year-old jumped from a second-story window and survived, however, response times could improve.
“The first truck got out there in 13 minutes and the second truck got out there in about 15 minutes and I know the response times should be within 4 to 5 minutes,” Santoya explained to the city council while holding back tears. “I just keep thinking to myself, what could have been saved? I don’t have anything anymore. My 12-year-old made it, I’m very thankful, but now I don’t have any of my belongings, my wedding stuff, stuff I had from college, I lost it all and I just find it very, very important for these guys to get more staff and another building so no one experiences what I experienced because I don’t wish this upon anybody.”
With the approved budget, three firefighters will be added at the beginning of the year. An additional three could be hired if the city applies for and receives the federal SAFER grant.
You can watch Monday’s City Council meeting here or get a more in depth look at the budget in the meeting agenda.
Santoya Family (GoFundMe)
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