The votes are in. On November 8, 2022, Moorhead voters approved a 0.5% local option sales tax that will be used to fund a new Community Center/Public Library. The final tally was 8,782 (64.37%) to 4,861 (35.63%).
“This is such an exciting day for Moorhead. A new community center and public library will serve as the cornerstone of downtown redevelopment and give our citizens a gathering place and information space for generations to come,” said Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson. “I am thankful that our voters recognized the positive impact this project will have on our city and made their support known through their ‘YES’ votes. This will change the trajectory of the City for generations to come!”
A citizens task force appointed by Mayor Shelly Carlson developed some broad parameters for the project:
- A Community Center where people can gather and connect
- A Regional Library to meet current/future information needs
- A place where ideas and dreams can take shape
- A central, downtown location
- The 0.5% city sales tax will begin after the City completes procedural steps required by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Moorhead merchants and on-line retailers will collect state sales tax of 7.875% (which includes the new tax) as soon as April 1, 2023. The new tax is projected to yield $1.6 million or more per year dedicated to construction of the community center/public library project. The city sales tax is projected to cost each Moorhead resident about $2 per month.
- Under the direction of the City Council and informed by the Mayor’s Task Force, plans for the facility will now become more detailed. The process to select a design professional is being developed, a precise location will be identified, and amenities will be set to a budget in the coming months.
Want to see what things could look like? In August 2022, JLG Architects released renderings showing what a possible new community center/regional library might look like. Please see the slideshow below.
In spring 2022, the Task Force and the City of Moorhead held several public listening sessions to learn what citizens wanted to see in the project. Top requests included:
- Gathering/collaborative space
- Walking track
- Indoor play area
- Meeting place for all ages
- Coworker/maker hands-on learning spaces
- Greenspace/plants
The feedback from these citizen-input sessions led to the creation of the renderings from JLG.
Want more information about the project?