Three area school districts will have referendums on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Badger School District
The Badger School District will have three questions on the ballot.

One question focuses on whether the district should be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,340,000 for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, deferred capital maintenance, boiler and HVAC system upgrades and improvements, new exterior windows and doors, and the remodeling of existing restrooms.

District voters will also be asked whether the district should increase its general education revenue by $429 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for 10 years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

If the prior two questions were approved, district voters will be asked whether the school district should be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $11,240,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, construction and equipping of classroom additions to the school site and facility; improvements to repurpose and remodel existing classroom spaces; construction and equipping of a new gymnasium facility including weight room, concessions, restrooms and locker rooms; construction and equipping of new career and technical education (CTE) spaces.

On its website, the district noted that the building has an outdated boiler, heating pipes from 1951, a failing HVAC system, undersized classes and inefficient infrastructure. It further noted that it has a growing budget deficit.

Roseau School District
Roseau School District voters will be asked whether the district should increase its general education revenue by $1,000 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for 10 years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

In a press release provided to the Roseau Times-Region, Superintendent Tom Jerome wrote that the district is projected to face another $695,000 in reductions next school year on top of the $500,000 in reductions already made for the 2025-26 school year.

Win-E-Mac School District
Win-E-Mac School District voters will be asked whether the district should increase its general education revenue by $800 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would first be levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and would be applicable for 10 years unless otherwise revoked or reduced by law.

On its website, the district noted that it faced a $300,000 budget deficit last year and faces a $350,000 deficit this year with the shortfall projected to grow in the future without additional funding.