LEWISTON – The city will hold a special referendum in December to give voters their say on a new Farwell Elementary School.

The referendum was expected to be held during the regular election in November, but school officials said they would not have enough time to finalize the project’s costs and write a detailed referendum question by then.

The plan, which was approved by voters during a straw vote last month, calls for the 50-year-old Farwell school to be torn down and replaced with a new building on the same 4.6-acre site. It would accommodate about 400 students.

Officials believe the project could cost about $9.5 million.

The referendum will be held on Dec. 7. Because it will be a special election, residents will be able to vote only at the Multi-Purpose Center.