The mayor of Fargo, ND, has announced a special election, set for June 30, to vote on a tax which will fund permanent flood control measures.
Mayor Dennis Walaker, joined by City Commissioner Tim Mahoney, has proposed an increase of a half-cent sales tax that would start next year and run for 20 years. The revenue raised from the increase could pay for home buyouts, land purchases, levees, floodwalls, river channels and diversions as part of a permanent flood prevention program; the federal government is expected to pay the lion’s share of the program but a portion will be picked up by local and state coffers.
The tax must be approved by 60% of voters before heading to the state tax commissioner. The prospects for the bill passing appear favorable. The bill, of course, is directly tied to the massive flood damage experienced by the state earlier in the year.
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If this tax is passed for flood damage, this probably will have a water-fall (no pun intended) effect to other states.