The tax rate for the Fayette R-III school will remain unchanged from that of a year ago. The Board of Education approved the applied tax rate of $4.9962 per $100 of assessed valuation at its regular monthly meeting on August 19, following a public forum on the matter. The board also approved a bid to purchase a new school bus, and yearly bids for fuel, oil, and tire services.

The values of real estate and personal property within the district collectively rose by nearly $1.1 million. The board set the recommended operating levy at $4.3398 and its debt service levy at $0.6564.

The school board approved a bid from Central States to purchase a new school bus. The board opted to purchase a new bus rather than a used bus. Bids for used busses did not include all of the specs requested, said transportation supervisor Gary Beeler. The bid was the lowest of three received.

The new 2021 Bluebird bus comes with a price tag of $85,100 after a $2,375 trade-in. Beeler explained that eight of the district’s 10 busses are Bluebirds. This will allow the district to carry the same stock for various needed parts. Also, the door control is on the right, which enables the driver to look in the same direction as the students boarding and leaving the bus. Beeler also noted that the layout of the mirrors and windshield on Bluebird busses are preferable. 

The last time the district purchased a new bus was in February 2017. The current transportation schedule calls for the district's 2007 Thomas bus to be replaced during the 2022-23 school year.