Farmington Voters Approve Operating Levy to Support Students and Schools
Farmington Area Public Schools voters have approved a new operating levy to support teaching, learning, and student opportunities across the district. The unofficial results show 4,157 (57.54%) votes in favor of the referendum and 3,068 (42.46%) against.
The levy will provide critical local funding to maintain manageable class sizes, preserve academic and extracurricular programs, and support teachers and staff. District leaders say the approval reflects the community’s ongoing commitment to quality education and the success of Farmington Area students.
“This vote represents a shared purpose across our community to invest in what matters most, our students,” said Superintendent Jason Berg. “We are deeply grateful for our community’s support and for the engagement that helped bring this important measure forward.”
The 2025 election marked the district’s third attempt to secure an operating levy after unsuccessful votes in 2023 and 2024. In preparing for this year’s question, district officials emphasized listening to residents, communicating clearly, and demonstrating fiscal transparency and accountability.
In the months ahead, the district will continue to share information about how local dollars are being used to support meaningful learning and rich experiences for all students.
School Board Chair Kyle Christensen noted the importance of maintaining those connections. “We are committed to keeping the lines of communication open and to engaging with our community in meaningful ways,” Christensen said. “This support reinforces the shared belief that when we work together, we create strong schools and even stronger communities.”
Farmington Area Public Schools extends appreciation to everyone who took the time to learn about the levy and participate in the election.
2025 Operating Levy Referendum
Why the Levy is Needed
Farmington Area Public Schools has worked to live within its means — reducing spending, restructuring programs, and using its savings (fund balance) to cover shortfalls.
Even after these efforts, rising costs, new state mandates, and state funding that has not kept pace with inflation have left ISD 192 facing a projected $5–6 million deficit by 2026–27.
This operating levy is the most responsible way to provide a stable, predictable, local source of funding.
What the Levy is Not
The 2025 operating levy is not about adding extras. It is not about:
- New or expanded school buildings
- Sports facilities or stadiums
- Construction, renovation, or facility upgrades
It is about sustaining what ISD 192 already has — teachers, class sizes, core academic programs, and student opportunities.
Why now?
Over the last several years, Farmington Area Public Schools has made significant reductions to balance the budget. When reductions alone were not enough, the district used its fund balance (savings account), as a one-time fix. These dollars helped temporarily, but they cannot solve long-term budget challenges.
- Since 2021, the district has made $11.35 million in budget reductions and adjustments.
- Even with these steps, ISD 192 still faces a projected $5–6 million deficit by 2026–27.
Two previous levy requests (2023 and 2024) were not approved, and the district has now reached the point where ongoing reductions alone cannot sustain the teachers, class sizes, and student opportunities that families expect.
The 2025 operating levy is on the ballot now because it provides the only stable, predictable local funding source to maintain current levels of service and plan responsibly for the future.
Ballot Question
Below is a sample of the November 4, 2025, special election ballot for Farmington Area Public Schools (ISD 192). The ballot shows the operating levy question that residents will vote on. This example is provided for informational purposes only.
If Approved
The operating levy funds the people and programs that directly support students. It does not fund new buildings, sports facilities, or administrative extras.
If approved, the 2025 operating levy would:
- Maintain class sizes so teachers can give students the support they need
- Strengthen literacy and math instruction
- Expand middle and high school career pathway options that prepare students for their future
- Strengthening enrichment opportunities at the elementary level
If Not Approved
Without new funding, deeper cuts will be necessary, impacting every school and every student in Farmington Area Public Schools.
Likely reductions include:
- Higher class sizes across all grade levels
- Reductions in athletics, activities, and music
- Elimination of literacy interventions
- Reductions in instructional and behavior support for classrooms
- Reduction in administrative support
- Potential system changes such as a 4-day school week or closing an elementary school
Fiscal Responsibility
The district has taken significant steps to live within its means. Over the past several years, the district has reduced spending, restructured programs, increased fees, and used its fund balance (savings account) to balance the budget. These actions helped delay deeper cuts, but they were one-time fixes and cannot address the district’s ongoing funding gap.
The following outlines the reductions and adjustments the district has made over the last five years as part of its commitment to responsible stewardship of public funds:
- 2021–22 → $700,000 in reductions
- 2022–23 → $1,050,000 in reductions
- 2023–24 → $2,400,000 in reductions (Nov. 2023 Operating Levy not approved)
- 2024–25 → $2,700,000 balanced using one-time fund balance (savings account) dollars (Nov. 2024 Operating Levy not approved)
- 2025–26 → $4,500,000 gap addressed with $2.2M in reductions, higher fees, and a one-time use of $2.3M from the fund balance (Nov. 2025 Operating Levy on the ballot)
The fund balance is like a savings account. Once it’s spent, it’s gone. It can help temporarily, but it cannot be used to cover ongoing expenses year after year.
How ISD 192 Funding Compares
Operating levies play a major role in how much revenue each district has to spend per student. This results in less funding for Farmington Area Schools compared to neighboring districts and $2,500 below state average.
Local Control
Operating levy funds are approved and controlled locally. Every dollar raised stays within Farmington Area Public Schools and is used to directly support local students.
This is a local decision, made by and for Farmington Area Public Schools residents. Levy dollars stay here, in our schools, directly supporting our students.
Community Impact
Farmington Area Public Schools is an important part of what makes the Farmington Area a great place to live. High-quality schools not only prepare students for success, they also help protect property values and attract families and businesses to the community.
A strong school system benefits everyone — whether or not you currently have children enrolled — by supporting the overall vitality of the community.