Marinette County voters today will decide a referendum that seeks to raise the county’s annual property tax revenues by $1.5 million to support public safety and other essential county services.

If approved, the levy would result in an estimated property tax increase of $20 per $100,000 of equalized assessed property value, according to the Marinette County Board.

Polls will be open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The current tax limits set by Wisconsin law have put essential public safety services at risk, the Marinette County board stated in a Nov. 6 resolution seeking a referendum.

The 2026 levy is capped at $17.65 million, which is an increase of 1.494%. The referendum asks to raise the 2027 levy by 8.5%, which results in a levy of $19.15 million.

The levy increase of $1.5 million would also be permitted going forward.

The referendum states the levy is for “the purpose of maintaining existing levels of service for Public Safety including Law Enforcement, Jail, Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Family Court Commissioner; 911 Dispatch, Child Support, Emergency Management and Medical Examiner.”

Voters in Florence and Forest counties will choose a successor to Judge Leon Stenz, who is retiring after serving since 2008.

The candidates for the circuit court judgeship are Robert A. Kennedy Jr., who ran unsuccessfully against Stenz in 2014, and Alex Seifert.

Kennedy is a past Florence County district attorney for one term and a past Florence-Forest circuit court judge for one term. He began his 46-year legal career in private practice in Crandon, Wis.

Kennedy is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Seifert is the elected district attorney for Forest County. A 13-year military veteran, his legal experience includes two years as assistant corporation counsel for Forest County and working in the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office.

Seifert joined the Forest County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant DA in 2020 and was appointed DA in April 2024 by Gov. Tony Evers. He was elected to the position in November 2024, running as an Independent.

According to Wisconsin Examiner, Seifert hasn’t raised any money for the race while Kennedy has contributed $48,000 of his own money — spending that largely on newspaper and radio ads and yard signs.

Today’s ballot also includes a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor — both currently serving as Wisconsin Court of Appeals judges — are vying for a 10-year term.

Lazar has the backing of conservatives while Taylor is a former Democratic lawmaker.

Incumbent justice Rebecca Bradley, a conservative, chose not to seek reelection after serving on the court since October 2015. Today’s race will decide if the court’s liberal wing will gain a 5-2 majority or if the split will remain 4-3.

There are also school board and county supervisor elections in Marinette and Florence counties, although no local seats are contested on the ballot. Niagara City Council incumbents are unopposed as well.

However, Niagara area residents on election day can help decide who will be the next Miss Niagara. The 2026 candidates are: Saylor Anderson, Lexi Johnston, Peyton Neuens-Allred, Grace Payette and India Varda. All are juniors at Niagara High School.

Originated in 1968 with the Niagara Lions Club as sponsor, this vote is open to Niagara High School students, along with city and town of Niagara residents. The winner will have her coronation at the Niagara Lions Community Picnic on June 27.