 Moorhead
City Council approves 2008 budget
Kim Winnegge, The Forum
Published Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Moorhead City Council voted 6-0 Monday to approve its 2008 operating and
capital budget.
Council members Dan Bohmer and Nancy Otto were absent.
The 2008 budget of $58 million is an increase of $3,994,007 from 2007.
The council also approved the city’s property tax levy of $233,044 for
general fund operations and $571,257 for coverage of debt service and special
assessments associated with infrastructure investments.
The budget calls for additional city staff, including three full-time
firefighters, three full-time police officers and a three-quarter-time
accounting specialist.
The budget also includes several electric utility transfers and adoptions for
the Economic Development Authority’s tax levy and budget.
Council members also tabled a motion to discuss interest rates for Trollwood
Performing Arts School’s land acquisition. About 50 acres of land will be sold
and developed by Trollwood Future Builders.
Land just north of 50th Avenue South in Moorhead was purchased by the city of
Moorhead in 2005 as part of a 180-acre land acquisition centered on the
Trollwood Performing Arts School, which is relocating from Fargo.
The relocation of the Trollwood facilities have been in the works since 1993,
with plans solidified in June.
Moorhead will own the bulk of the new Trollwood facilities under construction
and set to open for the 2009 season because $5.5 million in Minnesota bonding
money is going toward the project.
Despite Moorhead owning the land, Trollwood will continue to operate as part
of the Fargo School District.
The original resolution on the land acquisition authorized charging Trollwood
a 6 percent interest rate, totaling $489,200 by 2012.
Council member John Rowell proposed an amendment offering no interest on the
acquisition, which he felt would be justifiable given the potential growth
spurred by Trollwood.
“The development of the Trollwood Performing Arts School Facility in south
Moorhead is going to be a major contributor in spurring residential growth in
that part of our city,” Rowell said.
Council member Greg Lemke disagreed with the amendment, asking for more time
to consider the proposal.
The council will discuss the interest rates at its next meeting on Jan. 7.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Kim Winnegge at (701) 241-5524
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