A vote on a sales tax initiative designed to pay for permanent flood control measures in Fargo will likely come in a June 30 special election, city officials announced Wednesday.

The proposal, introduced by Mayor Dennis Walaker and City Commissioner Tim Mahoney, calls for a half-cent sales tax that would start Jan. 1, 2010, and run for 20 years.

It would raise about $200 million to pay for a range of flood protection measures, including home buyouts, land purchases, levees, floodwalls, river channels and diversions, officials said.

To put the sales tax into effect by Jan. 1, City Attorney Erik Johnson said a timeline calls for the City Commission to approve a sales tax resolution Monday that would set the June 30 election date.

If 60 percent of voters approve the tax, the commission must hold required readings and then send the ordinance to the state tax commissioner by Sept. 30.

It would go into effect Jan. 1, Johnson said.

“It needs to go forward very quickly,” Walaker said, noting that people can have short memories even after major events.