110 Mill Levy Ballot Measure Proposed for Fargo Public Schools

Fargo Voters Weigh 110-Mill General Fund Cap for Public Schools

Fargo Public Schools is asking voters on the November 3 general election ballot to approve a general fund levy of 110 mills, a move designed to lock in local property tax support starting December 31, 2027. The district’s current general fund levy is 127 mills.

Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner explained that the proposed mill levy approval would not raise taxes. Instead, it serves as a continuation of what the district has done for many years, allowing operations to proceed without disruption.

Where the Revenue Goes

The general fund absorbs the revenue generated by these collections. Budget allocations break down into specific operational categories across the district.

80% goes toward staff salaries and benefits.
20% covers software, technology, program-related transportation, and daily supplies.

For the 2025–26 school year, the Fargo Public Schools School Board structured its general fund levy authority into separate pools, as permitted by law: 109.98 mills for the general fund, 12 mills for the miscellaneous fund, and 4.8 mills for the tuition fund. Because of this restructuring, the district is seeking a lower excess mill levy than its previous authorization.

What a Yes or No Vote Means for Property Taxes

Voters facing the ballot question must weigh distinct financial outcomes depending on the election’s result.

Ballot Outcome	Tax and Budget Impact
Yes Vote	The district receives tax dollars based on the true assessed value of individual property, maintaining current educational offerings.
No Vote	Collections freeze at actual property tax dollars collected in the 2027–28 fiscal year, halting automatic growth as the city expands.

Steiner noted that a failed vote would force the district to make budget adjustments, including cuts, reductions, and reorganizations to programs, staffing, and services.

“Great school districts always are looking forward and they’re very nimble, and able to adapt to the needs of their community and the needs their families, and the needs of their learners. If we don’t pass it, it will just cause us to have to look backwards more instead of forward because it means we’re going to have continually to play catch-up with our budget,” Steiner said.

In 2017, the district secured approval for an excess levy of 127 mills. The miscellaneous fund mills and tuition fund mills will continue to operate outside of this excess mill levy regardless of the outcome on November 3.