Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Voters in the Rochester School District and dozens of other school districts throughout Minnesota are being asked to authorize property tax increases to support building projects and school programs.

The ballot for the special election Tuesday in the Rochester School District has two questions. The first requests voter approval to finance $171 million to cover the cost of building a new middle school, a new elementary school, reconstructing two existing elementary schools, security upgrades for existing schools, and upgrading the auditoriums at the city's public high schools. The second question, which is contingent on the first being approved, calls for funding another $9.5 million to add a swimming pool to Century High School and renovate the existing pools at John Marshall and Mayo High Schools.

The list of other school district special elections is long. In this region, voting will be taking place Tuesday in over a dozen school districts to fill vacancies on school boards and for bond issue or operating levy proposals. Rochester’s is the largest bond issue proposal in the state for this election cycle at just under $181 million, but voters in Owatonna are being asked to approve $104 million for a new High School, the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District has put together a ballot with three questions for a total of $47 million, and voters in St. Charles will be deciding the fate of an $18.5 million expansion and renovation proposal.

The poll places in Rochester are scheduled to open at 7 AM and the voting will continue until 8 PM. Information about where to vote can be found at the Rochester School District website and the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
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