FAIRMONT – The Fairmont School Board approved a tax levy increase of 19.1% during its meeting on Tuesday.

This is decreased slightly from the 19.28% increase proposed as a preliminary in September.

The decision came with a public comment section, but no one was there to comment. With decreases in taxes payable in 2024 and 2025, Advisor Beth Downes said this year’s tax payable estimates look similar to 2023’s numbers.

Most of the $1.25 million levy increase is toward the long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan, which jumps from $947,032 to $2.29 million, a 56.8 percent increase. Levy funds decreased for the general and community service funds by 2.8 percent and 18.4 percent respectively.

Board Member Michael Edman said the LTFM needed to happen anyway for the good of the buildings. While it will be a spike this year, Edman said this is because they are getting the funding all at once to save money in the long run.

“We were going to have to continue to do the roof,” he said. “We have to do those things, and to do it all at once is more efficient. It’s just the right way to do it.”

Board Member Dan Brookens said he has always been in favor of staying ahead of issues.

“We don’t want to have things get run down, where we’re going to end up having to pay a huge expense for a new building,” he said. “Most of this work that’s being done is in the oldest building that we have right now, which was built in 1954, I believe. To add new HVAC, make sure the roof is good, floors, all the things that we’re going to be looking at. That gives this building another generation of life.”

Regarding funding, Downes said a lot of it is uniform and regulated because the Minnesota legislature sets funding for Minnesota Public Schools, which makes up a large majority of the revenue Fairmont Schools receive.

“They’re determining all their formula revenue for you,” she said. “The tax policy for local schools, your maximum amount you can levy.”

Even so, Downes said since 2003, state funding has lagged behind inflation on a per-pupil basis.

“We’re at about just under $7,500 for fiscal year 2026,” she said. “If that formula had been adjusted for inflation over the last 23 years, it’s almost up to $9,000 when we get to 2026. We’re about $1,400 per pupil behind for all of our kiddos in the district.”

In addition, Downes said a change in tax levy does not necessarily result in a change in budget. An increased tax levy can compensate for a reduction in state aid, so an increase in school taxes does not always mean an equal increase in budget.

While an increase in the tax levy has its impacts, Downes said there are several state property tax programs to take advantage of.

For those with a homestead residential and agricultural, a sliding scale refund is available based on total property taxes income.

Anyone who sees an increase of at least 12 percent and $100 over last year’s taxes has a refund available for 60 percent of the tax increase above 12 percent or $100, up to $1,000.

If itemized deductions are utilized for federal income taxes, a deduction of a portion of taxes paid can be applied. Renters can also claim a renter’s refundable credit on their tax return.

Superintendent Andy Traetow said the totality of the tax levy doesn’t adjust their general operating expenses budget, and this is only the fifth year out of the last 10 that the levy has increased.

Edman motioned, and Jen Harris seconded to approve the tax levy. The school board approved the motion unanimously.

Traetow said any concerns can be directed to anyone on the school board by contacting the district office at 507-238-4234.

In other news:

— Eide Bailly showed their results of the 2025-26 audit report of the school. Eide Bailly representative Kasey Thoms said they identified some missing information from sampled I-9 tax forms and from Partners In Education contributions. However, these issues were minor and brought to the board’s attention for future reference and priority.

— Traetow said district representatives met with ISG regarding the tennis court project scheduled for summer 2026. Other projects underway include heating issues in parts of both buildings, track repair scheduling for spring 2026, a high school gymnasium bleacher addition and the roofing project’s bid process.