WATERLOO -- This won't be a big year for school board races, but voters could have an impact on school budgets across Northeast Iowa.

Few races are contested this year, but that doesn't mean voters can stay home. Districts are asking them to approve special tax levies or bond referendums for building improvements.

Four districts will be asking voters to approve use of new statewide sales and service tax money for school improvements. The tax replaces a one-percent sales tax passed in all 99 counties.

Valley Community School District in northern Fayette County is also seeking to change the way their board is elected. Board members are selected from five districts, but voters could opt to have all at-large positions instead.

Counties in the Northeast Iowa Area Community College district also will be asked to approve an instructional equipment levy of six cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation. Those counties include Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Mitchell and Winneshiek.

Here is a list of contested races and ballot initiatives. Incumbents are indicated with an (i) wherever possible.

Allamakee

Postville -- At-large (open seat; vote for one) Jamie K. Smith, Postville (i); Christine Enyart, Postville

Benton

Belle Plaine -- At-Large (elect one): Mike Bachelder (i); Mitchell Robinson

Bremer

Sumner -- At-large (elect one): Jim Kleitsch, Sumner; Tyler Larsen, Sumner

Wapsie Valley -- Voters are asked to approve a bond referendum for $8 million for two new elementary schools in Readlyn and Fairbank. Voters also are asked to increase the maximum taxing authority of the district from $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation to $4.05 of $1,000 of valuation.

Waverly-Shell Rock -- Voters also are asked to approve the use of money from the state's Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund for school infrastructure purposes and needs. Among those would be construction, demolition or repair of school buildings and facilities; furnishing such buildings; debt payments; and other uses allowed under state law.

Buchanan

East Buchanan -- Voters are asked to approve a physical plant and equipment levy of up to $1 per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation for a period of five years. The money will be used to improve school grounds and buildings; construction of new buildings; purchase of grounds, equipment, technology, library materials, transportation equipment or buildings; debt payments; or renovation or remodeling of existing buildings.

Voters also are asked to approve the use of money from the state's Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund for school infrastructure purposes and needs. Among those would be construction, demolition or repair of school buildings and facilities; furnishing such buildings; debt payments; and other uses allowed under state law.

Butler

Aplington-Parkersburg -- Director District 3 (Vote for two): Calvin Voss, Parkersburg (i); Melody Nevenhoven, Aplington; Todd Cooper, Aplington

Greene -- Director District 5 (vote for one): Jeff Lindell, Greene (i); John Moellers, Greene

Chickasaw

Nashua-Plainfield -- Director District 1 (vote for one): Gail Zwanziger, Nashua; Michael Mahoney, Nashua

New Hampton and Turkey Valley -- Voters in both districts are asked to approve the use of money from the state's Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund for school infrastructure purposes and needs. Among those would be construction, demolition or repair of school buildings and facilities; furnishing such buildings; debt payments; and other uses allowed under state law.

Clayton

Clayton Ridge -- At-Large (vote for three): Janice Andregg, Guttenberg; Roger Balk, Garnavillo; Jeff Hoffmann, Guttenberg; Mary Waterman, Guttenberg

Delaware

West Delaware County -- District Director 3 (vote for one): Gary Johnson, Dundee (i); Linda Bessey, Manchester

Director District 2 (vote for one): Edith Fortmann-Comley (i), Ryan; Steve Dudak, Manchester

Fayette

Oelwein -- At-large (vote for one): David Eick, Oelwein; Kellie Henniges, Oelwein

Voters are asked to approve a physical plant and equipment levy of up to $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation for a period of 10 years. The money will be used to improve school grounds and buildings; construction of new buildings; purchase of grounds, equipment, technology, library materials, transportation equipment or buildings; debt payments; or renovation or remodeling of existing buildings.

Valley -- Voters are asked to approve changing the way voters elected their school board members. The change would eliminate director districts for each of the five members, instead making them all at-large positions.

Floyd

Charles City -- At-large (vote for two) Ralph Smith, Charles City (i); Matt Spading, Charles City (i); Barbara Carstens, Charles City

Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock -- Voters are asked to approve a physical plant and equipment tax levy of $0.67 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The money will be used to improve school grounds and buildings; construction of new buildings; purchase of grounds, equipment, technology, library materials, transportation equipment or buildings; debt payments; or renovation or remodeling of existing buildings.

Hardin

Eldora-New Providence -- At-large (vote for one): Jolene Teske, Eldora (i); Scott Ridout, Eldora

Director District 3 (vote for one): Nancy Bunt, Eldora; Lori Kohart, Eldora

Voters are asked to approve a revenue statement authorizing the district to use money from the state Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund for school infrastructure purposes and needs. Among those would be construction, demolition or repair of school buildings and facilities; furnishing such buildings; debt payments; and other uses allowed under state law.

Howard

Howard-Winneshiek -- At-large: Janet McClure, Cresco; Jeff Murphy, Cresco; Jason Rubin, Lime Springs; Tom Tuchek, Cresco

Tama

South Tama -- Director District 5 (vote for one): Jackie Dvorak, Chelsea (i); Teresa Vodochodsky, Tama

North Tama -- Voters are asked to approve the use of money from the state's Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund for school infrastructure purposes and needs. Among those would be construction, demolition or repair of school buildings and facilities; furnishing such buildings; debt payments; and other uses allowed under state law.