Fairfield voters approve PPEL increase

FAIRFIELD – Voters in the Fairfield Community School District approved an increase to the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) on Tuesday, March 5.

The PPEL passed with 66 percent approval, receiving 647 votes in favor compared to 326 votes against. The question before voters was whether to increase the voter-approved PPEL from 67 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation to $1.34 per $1,000 taxable valuation. The increase will take effect in fiscal year 2026 and will last for 10 years before voters have a chance to renew it.

Fairfield Community School District Interim Superintendent Stephanie Mishler said she was “elated” with the support from the community. She said she had been speaking to civic groups and employers about the PPEL in the weeks leading up to the vote.

“Everybody asked insightful questions,” she said. “I felt very positive, but you never know until the results are in. It was wonderful to see that support come out in full force and pass with such a strong approval rate.”

The current 67-cent levy generates about $612,000 annually for the district, and that money can only be used on certain capital projects, so it does not cover personnel or curriculum expenses. In recent years, PPEL funds have gone toward roof repairs and replacements, purchasing new school buses, improving school security, and maintaining HVAC systems, among other projects.

Mishler said the district has had to dip into its general fund to cover expenses that could be paid out of the PPEL fund, things like desks, chairs, computers and so on. Now that voters have approved an increase to the PPEL, that will alleviate some of the stress on the general fund.

“Over time, we’ll be saving money in our general fund, which we use to pay for curriculum, teachers, materials and things more directly connected to educational expenses,” Mishler said.

The school board took a major step in saving money in its general fund in February when it voted to cut $1.1 million from the 2024-25 budget, which entailed eliminating 13.5 staff positions. The next issue the board must consider is deciding what its levies should be next fiscal year, and the public will have the chance to learn about the board’s proposed levies during a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 25 at the ACT Building.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com