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Fargodome leaders eagerly await voter decision on sales tax for renovations – InForum

Fargodome leaders eagerly await voter decision on sales tax for renovations – InForum

FARGO — Members of the Fargo Dome Authority are just days away from finding out whether their hopes for remodeling the Fargodome — an event center at 1800 N. University Drive — will be embraced by Fargo voters.

If at least 60% of voters approve it in this election, the $110 million Fargodome renovation will be funded in part by proceeds from a 20-year, quarter-cent sales tax. In addition, the Fargodome plans to contribute $30 million of its savings to the project.

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A representation of the proposed changes to the Fargodome.

Post / Fargodome

“We feel really good about where we are right now.” Dave Suppes, chairman of the Fargo Dome Authority, told The Forum. “We are grateful that we had the chance to get our message out to the public and now it is in the hands of voters.”

In recent weeks, the Fargodome has funded an educational campaign to inform the public about the facts of the remodel through online advertising and ads on popular streaming platforms such as Hulu and YouTube TV. The displays, approved by the Fargo Dome Authority, cost just under $100,000.

In addition, Suppes and Fargodome CEO Rob Sobolik have been on a media tour for several weeks to spread the word to Fargo residents, Suppes said during the Fargo Dome Authority meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

“We are in the home stretch and just have to announce the final message,” Suppes said on Tuesday. “We’ll just take it to the finish line.”

Most of the feedback they have received from the public has been positive, Suppes told The Forum, and he is confident the campaign has served its intended purpose of getting the facts out to the public.

While the Fargodome is structurally sound, it needs to be modernized to keep it relevant and current for the next 30 years, Suppes said, by adding more accessible seating, building additional restrooms, improving circulation through expansion, offering additional concession options and other changes designed to improve the Fargodome both inside and out.

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A representation of the proposed changes to the Fargodome.

Post / Fargodome

“We want to provide a better experience for the people who use the Fargodome,” Suppes said.

He said he has enjoyed using the Fargodome for most of his life, and he sees the proposed remodel and sales tax as a “pay it forward” to the next generation by ensuring it provides maximum enjoyment to users for the next 30 years offers.

With $30 million of the project coming from the Fargodome’s general fund, members of the Fargo Dome Authority plan to begin work on the project with their architect immediately if voters approve the sales tax on Tuesday.

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A representation of the proposed changes to the Fargodome.

Post / Fargodome

The Fargo Dome Authority has not discussed what would happen next if this measure is not implemented, he said.

“We put all our energy into disseminating the information,” Suppes said.

This is the second round of renovations to the Fargodome. The city of Fargo held a special election last December asking voters to approve a new quarter-cent sales tax and an additional 3% lodging tax to fund renovations and a convention center addition to the Fargodome.

This measure failed with almost 52% of voters approving of it. Ballot measures for new sales taxes must pass with a 60% majority.

After that vote, the Fargo Dome Authority decided to remove the convention center from the project and is only proposing a remodel of the Fargodome in this election.

Also on the ballot this November is a separate measure sponsored by Visit Fargo-Moorhead that, if approved, would raise funds to build a large convention center by increasing the city’s hotel tax from 3% to 6% for 25 years.

In total, Fargo voters will decide on three ballot measures in the city at election time this year.

The last is a 20-year, quarter-cent sales tax that, if passed, would solely fund the city’s fire and police departments.

For more information about voting this year, visit www.casscountynd.gov/our-county/finance-office/elections.

To learn more about what’s on the ballot, visit InForum.com/vote.

Melissa Van Der Stad

Reporter on night duty 👻. I cover Fargo city government, Cass County government and underserved populations in the region.

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