MOORHEAD — One city of Moorhead budget proposal includes funding to increase Moorhead Fire Department staffing and begin working toward a third fire station.

The budget proposal brought forward by Fire Chief Jeff Wallin includes $298,000 for three full-time firefighters, $115,000 for a full-time training coordinator and $20,000 for predesign services for a third fire station.

The additional fire department requests are on top of a base operating budget proposal of $51.5 million. City Manager Dan Mahli said the budget proposal prioritizes staffing and benefits, wastewater capacity and downtown development.

“This is truly a hold-steady budget, with the exception of this consideration in the fire department,” Mahli said.

While the $298,000 figure in the proposal is the full cost of bring

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