FAIRMONT – A preliminary tax levy increase of 19.28% was set by the Fairmont School Board during its meeting on Tuesday.

Schools need to set a preliminary levy by Sep. 30 and Business and Finance Director Jessica Korte said schools differ from other levies.

“They’re able to, and it’s recommended to set a maximum levy,” Korte said. “That’s to allow MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) to make necessary changes.”

She said that rings extra true this year because MDE has had several employees with long tenure retire this year. To make it as easy as possible, she recommended setting the levy at the max and working down from there.

Due to continued changes, the exact amount of the levy will change incrementally up until the 30th.

“I just received an update this morning that was the third change since they started producing the reports for school districts,” Superintendent Andy Traetow said.

While the school district does have some authority over levy amounts, Traetow said the general revenue figures generated through the levy are made through formulas set by the state of Minnesota, which is different from other public entities that set their levies.

Korte said the main portion of the increase is $1.4 million for the debt redemption fund.

“The board had issued $17.8 million LTFM (long term facilities maintenance) bonds back in July,” she said. “The increase of $1.4 million is due to the debt service starting on those bonds on payable fiscal 2026.”

The bond funding went mainly to roofing and indoor air quality projects at the elementary and high school. The general and community service funds decreased from their 2025 amounts by $112,000 and $25,000 respectively. Korte said they will see what can be brought down, but a lot of it is not under their control.

A unanimous approval was given for the preliminary tax levy.

In other news

— Community Education and Recreation Director Stephanie Busiahn discussed the results of the summer session. She said there were 18,400 views of the digital brochure, 90 program offerings and 1,200 registrations overall. Their most popular programs included basketball with 117 boys and 98 girls, football with 156 participants total and tennis with 109 registrations.

— In his Operations Committee Meeting, Board Member Dan Brookens said a staff member proposed doing research on bringing a therapy dog into the school system. This would be a part of the Hunt Fund, of which $42,000 is to be given out this year in student scholarships and enrichment programs.