At their regular meeting on Tuesday, the Fairmont Area School board unanimously approved a resolution to present district voters with a single-question building bond referendum this fall. On Tuesday, November 4, residents will decide whether to invest $21.7 million for critical facility and educational improvements at both schools by casting their vote. According to Superintendent Andy Traetow, “Over the past year, we have worked through a long-range planning process to further understand, identify, and prioritize our needs, including a facility analysis, an educational adequacy assessment, a utility analysis, a roofing analysis, and gathering feedback from various stakeholders.”
The proposed plan includes building a fine arts learning center addition, a new secured entrance and office area, adding windows to several classrooms, replacing underfloor sewer pipe, and other improvements at our junior/senior high school. The plan also includes replacing the original 1954 elevator and making additional exterior and interior improvements, such as tuckpointing and door replacements at Fairmont Elementary.
The referendum would be funded through a property tax increase if voters approve the plan. For a $200,000 residential home in the district, the estimated tax impact is approximately $7 per month starting in 2026. For an agricultural homestead with an estimated market value of $5,000 per acre, the estimated tax impact would be $0.03 per acre per month ($0.38 per acre per year) starting in 2026.
The district will share more information about the plan, tax impact, voting, and more in the coming months through a dedicated referendum website, which will be launched in mid-August.