NICOLLET — Voters in the Nicollet, Madelia and Sibley East school districts will vote in school district special elections Tuesday.

The Nicollet Public School board proposed to increase general education revenue by $1,014.76 per pupil for School District Question 1. The proposal referendum authorization would be levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and be applicable for five years.

If School District Question 2 is approved, Nicollet Public Schools would be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds not to exceed $7.6 million for construction of a secure main entrance, renovations and expansion of the career and technical education space; and capital required deferred maintenance projects.

Prior Nicollet school district operating referenda have been widely supported by the public. The district has not asked for capital support since a referendum was passed for the community center and early childhood center.

Needs were identified by engineering and educational studies that created a 10-year academic space and facilities plan.

If left unaddressed, capital maintenance needs will only get worse and lead to costly repairs. Project costs increase over time.

Madelia voters have a two-question referendum. If approved, the school district would sell bonds for $22.5 million in question 1. About $6 million would be allocated to the elementary school, $16.5 million to the high school. For question 2, $8 million would be used to build an additional junior/senior high gym.

Tax impact on a home valued at $200,000 would be $221 a year for question 1 and $91 a year for question 2.

Madelia School Board Chairman Steve Sorenson said school roofs are no longer insurable and an old elementary chiller is operating at 50%.

Other issues are school entrances that can’t be monitored and some school areas lack security cameras.

Sibley East voters will decide the fate of a proposal to increase school district education revenue by $650 per pupil for 10 years beginning with taxes payable in 2026. The referendum is sought to allow for reduced class sizes, continue current programming and possibly bring back some programs that have been reduced.