FAIRMONT – A $67,762 increase in the school tax levy was open for public comment at the Fairmont School Board Truth in Taxation meeting on Tuesday.

The increase, totaling 1 percent, up from $6,502,062 last year to $6,569,825, comes from three distinct changes. Ehlers Municipal Advisor Beth Downes said two decreases and one increase contributed to the overall levy change. The two decreases are $65,388 for prior year levy adjustments and $61,086 for debt payments.

“We have the calculation they do,” Downes said. “They look and if you’ve got too much fund balance, they take some levy away and give that back to the taxpayers. That’s why you’ll see some adjustments going on with it. We see this a lot in current years. A lot of it has to do with interest revenue the debt service fund has been making.”

For participation in the Achievement and Integration program, $62,728 is increased in the levy. The program is funded 70 percent by the state and 30 percent by the levy increase. Overall, Downes said the levy rise should have a minimal effect on resident’s taxes.

Based on an average 30 percent increase in property value from last year, those with residential homesteads will have around the same amount to pay next year. Those whose property values did not increase or increased slightly should see school property taxes decrease by around $30-50.

For farmers, the picture is slightly different. Downes said the school property taxes on an acre valued at $10,000 will increase from $5.40 to $5.70. She said this comes from the debt payment decrease and Achievement and Integration program increase.

“Some of the levy switched from that debt service,” Downes said. “The debt service part went down and achievement integration went up. On the debt portion, your Ag properties get a 70 percent credit so the state pays 70 percent of their debt service. When we move that levy to the general fund, they don’t get a 70 percent reduction anymore.”

No one from the public came to speak on the tax results. Board Member Michael Edman motioned to approve the tax levy, which Board Member Jen Harris seconded. The levy was approved unanimously.

In other board news:

— Activities Director Mat Mahoney said Elijah Johnson and Hank Artz had been selected to be on the Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game South Roster.

— Mahoney also spoke to the Minnesota Vikings about girls’ seven-on-seven football, which he said the Vikings hope will be an MSHSL-sponsored event by 2028.

— Building and Grounds Director Tyler Garrison said OSHA made a surprise visit to the schools. Garrison said it was a good visit and while they won’t get the results until January, he believes they will get a very low number of citations.