MINOT — The reckoning for Fargo's sclerotic and elephantine communications department continued at a recent city meeting where elected commissioners received a report resulting from an inquiry into problems in that department.

The inquiry prompted the departure of four communications staff, and looking at the runaway growth in the city's spending on communications, we might call that a good start.

In 2020, the city's budget for the Department of Communications and Public Affairs was just over $487,000, of which about $351,000 was employee salaries and benefits.

In 2025, the budget exceeded $2.084 million, representing a more than 328% increase, with over $1.336 million allocated to salaries and benefits. If we start measuring in 2015, when the communications budget was just over $14

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