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Downtown West FargoPhoto: Billybob2002 · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · West Fargo

West Fargo spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

West Fargo’s city government spent $58.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,462 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

8:00 am

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$58.4M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,462
In 2022: $1,100, more than 77% of 177 similar cities
Long-term debt
$310.4M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
316
full-time · 15 part-time · March payroll $2.2M
Typical tax bill
$3,959
1.23% of home value · ND 0.99%

What stands out about how West Fargo is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,100 per resident, more than 77% of 177 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares West Fargo Public School District 6 with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From West Fargo’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,462 per resident a year, or $4.01 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 27%Property taxes 19%Sales taxes 17%From the state 14%Fees & charges 11%Utility sales 9%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments 1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $30.3 million; interest on debt $10.1 million; payments to other governments $8.4 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $113.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,100 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them

West Fargo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,100 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 177 North Dakota cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $774, and the middle half spent $510–$1,045. West Fargo spent more than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $510–$1,045Median $774West Fargo

Includes sewer and trash ($9.2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
177

North Dakota cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; West Fargo itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 39% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years West Fargo reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$42 million
2023$46.3 million
2024$58.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,100 · 2023: $1,172 · 2024: $1,462. Per resident it went from $1,100 to $1,462 (up 33%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 38,194 to 39,985.

City staff
316

full-time in March 2025, up from 236 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,959 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Horace$4,807
West Fargo$3,959
Mapleton Township$3,600
Fargo$3,492
Reed Township$3,447
North Dakota$2,468
Raymond Township$2,000
$3,959
typical bill a year
1.23%
effective rate
$321,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at West Fargo’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to West Fargo’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in West Fargo →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in West Fargo

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See westfargond.gov for West Fargo’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for West Fargo yet.westfargond.gov ↗
Who works for West Fargo

One full-time city employee for every 127 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (39,985).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police95 + 5 pt
Fire48 + 4 pt
Administration & buildings42
Sewer & trash35
Roads & transportation21
Parks & libraries18 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities8
Courts, inspections & corrections3
Other46
316
full-time
15
part-time
$2.2M
payroll for March 2025
$26.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$83,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
82
sworn police officers
39
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.West Fargo had 6.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 120 of the 177 North Dakota cities that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 0.0: West Fargo had more than 78% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

West Fargo Public School District 6

West Fargo’s K–12 school district, shared with Barnes Township, Harwood, Reile's Acres, Horace, Reed Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in West Fargo →
$14,624
per pupil · ND $16,642
12,865
students
$240.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,624 per pupil, $8,692 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 37%State 52%Federal 10%

North Dakota districts overall: 40% local, 46% state, 14% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

West Fargo’s votes are counted by county

North Dakota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for West Fargo alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Cass County’s results.

President · Cass County’s results90,851 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.7%47,873 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.4%40,304 votes

Others: 2.9% (2,674 votes).

Most votes in Cass County: Donald J Trump

North Dakota: Trump 67.0%, Harris 30.5%

The county’s page

100% of West Fargo lies in Cass County. Every 2024 race in Cass County is on the county’s page.

Cass County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents West Fargo

From town hall to Washington

West Fargo sends 10 representatives to the North Dakota House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: westfargond.gov ↗
  2. 2
    North Dakota HouseWest Fargo is split between 5 districts
    Austen SchauerJim JonasAndrew MarschallBen KoppelmanCarrie McLeodScott WagnerBrandy PyleJonathan WarreyLaurieBeth HagerMary Schneider
  3. 3
    North Dakota SenateState senator
    Judy LeeDavid ClemensRon SorvaagMark WeberKathy Hogan
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kelly Armstrong
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Julie Fedorchak
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Dakota
    John HoevenKevin Cramer
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How West Fargo compares with the towns next door

West Fargo spent $1,100 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $774 to $1,088. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Fargo: $1,088 per resident (2022)Mapleton Township: no reported 2022 figuresBarnes Township: no reported 2022 figuresReed Township: no reported 2022 figuresRaymond Township: no reported 2022 figuresHorace: $774 per resident (2022)FargoMapleton TownshipBarnes TownshipReed TownshipRaymond TownshipHoraceWest Fargo
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Horace$774$4,807
Fargo$1,088$3,492
Mapleton Townshipestimate$3,600
Barnes Townshipestimate—
Reed Townshipestimate$3,447
Raymond Townshipestimate$2,000
West Fargo$1,100$3,959

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach West Fargo’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitewestfargond.gov ↗

Questions about West Fargo’s government

How much does West Fargo spend per resident?

About $1,462 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,100 was more than 77% of 177 North Dakota cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in West Fargo?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,959 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.23% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.99% across North Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see westfargond.gov.

Who runs West Fargo’s government?

See westfargond.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for West Fargo yet.

How did West Fargo vote in 2024?

North Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for West Fargo alone. Cass County, where 100% of West Fargo lies, voted Trump 52.7%, Harris 44.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for West Fargo?

316 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.2M (about $26.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents West Fargo in the state legislature?

West Fargo is split among 5 State House districts and 5 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The North Dakota Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in West Fargo?

The next posted meeting is General on Thursday, November 5, at 8:00 am, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about West Fargo’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →