A levy transfer question will appear on the April 7, 2026, ballot. This page provides factual information to help the community understand the proposition, including what a levy transfer is, why it is being discussed, and what it does and does not change.

This information is provided to help our community understand Proposition Transfer and is for informational purposes only.

What is a Levy?

A levy is the local property tax that helps fund public schools. In simple terms, it is how school districts collect local tax dollars to pay for day-to-day operations, such as:

• Paying staff

• Running buses

• Keeping buildings operating

• Providing supplies and services

• Large construction projects

The levy is part of the total property tax rate and is set by law.

How the school levy works.

The school levy is made up of different parts, each with a specific purpose.

The Farmington School District has two parts to our total levy:

• Operating Levy - used for daily operational costs, such as staff pay, utilities, fuel, and other resources.

• Debt Service Levy - used to pay off existing debt on bonds that were used for large construction projects.

Even though the levy has different parts, they add up to one total school tax rate.

Currently, the Farmington R-7 School District has a Debt Service Levy of $0.90 and an Operating Levy of $2.75. Proposition Transfer is asking voters to approve moving $0.30 from the Debt Service Levy to the Operating Levy. This move would not change the total tax rate of $3.65.

What is a levy transfer?

A levy transfer moves money between two parts of the total school tax rate.

Think of it like a household budget. You may decide to move money from one part of your total budget to another, without increasing your total spending. A levy transfer works the same way. The total amount paid by taxpayers stays the same. Only how that money is used changes.

A levy transfer is not:

• A tax increase

• New money

Why Is the District Talking About This Now?

Like many school districts, Farmington R-7 is facing:

• Rising costs for staff, utilities, transportation, and supplies

• Funding levels that change from year to year

• Increased use of savings to cover everyday expenses

The State Minimum: Currently, Farmington R-7 operates at the Missouri state minimum operating levy of $2.75. While we take pride in being efficient, this low rate makes it increasingly difficult to compete with neighboring districts for high-quality staff.

Responsible Debt Management: We have been good stewards with taxpayer dollars and have paid down our bonds on or even ahead of schedule. With this responsible approach, we have "extra room" in our debt service budget, allowing us to safely transfer $0.30 from debt service to the operating levy. The $0.60 will allow us to continue making timely payments on all outstanding bonds and plan for the future.

Investing in Staff: One of the main benefits of increasing the operating levy is to keep our best teachers and staff in Farmington. We must keep our salaries competitive. Currently, over 70% of our operating budget goes directly to the people who teach and support our students.

Where to Learn More or Ask Questions

• Visit the Business & Finance page for a broader overview of school funding

• Attend the Community Information Night at 7:00 pm on March 19th at Long Memorial Hall for a district-led explanation.

• Questions? Please use this form to submit questions or comments.

We encourage community members to use district resources to stay informed.