Public meetings set on half-cent Cass sales tax

October 04, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Four public meetings are scheduled to provide information on a proposed half-cent Cass County sales tax for flood control appearing on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The county tax would generate an estimated

$11 million a year to help pay for the local share of a diversion channel to protect Fargo-Moorhead.

A half-cent sales tax already passed in Fargo raises about $10 million a year for flood control. Local officials favor a diversion in North Dakota with a price tag of $1.4 billion.

If the county sales tax for flood control passes, the cumulative sales tax in Fargo would increase to 7½ percent from 7 percent.

All of the meetings are scheduled at 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Oct. 14, Longfellow Elementary School, multipurpose room, 20 29th Ave. N., Fargo.
Oct. 19, Bennett Elementary School, multipurpose room, 2000 58th Ave. S., Fargo.
Oct. 21, Cheney Middle School, theater, 825 17th Ave. E., West Fargo.
Oct. 25, Casselton, location to be announced.

County commissioners and other officials will attend the meeting, and officials from the city of Fargo also will be invited, Commissioner Darrell Vanyo said.
State's Attorney Birch Burdick, citing an opinion by the attorney general, cautioned commissioners that they should refrain from outright advocacy if any county money is spent in connection with the meetings.

For instance, commissioners could explain why they favored placing the tax on the ballot, if they stop short of urging constituents to vote for the tax or if public funds were spent on the meeting.

For that reason, officials decided to seek a public venue for the meeting in Casselton. Because the city hall is under renovation, the county had planned on renting a hotel meeting room.

"Obviously I'm in favor of it," Commissioner Scott Wagner said of the proposed tax. "That's why I voted to bring it forward to the voters."

As elected officials, he added, commissioners have an obligation to explain the reasons for their positions to constituents.

In other action, commissioners approved five projects seeking Recovery Zone bonds for construction projects in Cass County.

The county has allocated $44.2 million in funds for 10 projects representing investments totaling $64 million.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522