(Rock Port) -- Atchison County election officials hope next Tuesday bucks the trend of small turnouts for municipal elections.

Some interesting races and important tax referendums dot the April 8th ballot. Atchison County Clerk Suzette Taylor tells KMA News she hopes it's enough to bring more people to the polls.

"Traditionally, we don't have a huge turnout," said Taylor. "Sometimes as even as low as 25-30%." We do have several issues and races on this ballot, so I'm hoping for a little larger--hopefully, a 50% turnout."

Contested races include a three-person matchup for two spots on the Rock Port R-2 School Board between Afton Schomburg, Shannon Muntz and Theresa Crawford. Three other candidates seek two positions on the Fairfax R-3 School Board: Ky White, Crystal Woodring and Stephanie Stevens. Taylor says another big item is the Atchison-Holt Ambulance District's levy referendum.

"I think probably one of the bigger issues that voters are going to see this year is for the Atchison-Holt Ambulance District," she said. "They are actually asking for an additional 20-cent levy for their operations. They have not raised their levy in, I'm going to say, 30-plus years. They really have a need for that. So, that is going to be one of the biggest questions on the ballot this year."

Other tax-related issues are up for a vote, including a Fairfax district referendum on making the levy of 75 cents per hundred dollars valuation permanent. Funding from the levy would cover expenses associated with facilities maintenance, increased educational programming costs and other operational needs. Tarkio voters must also decide on a proposed sales tax of one-half of 1% for the purpose of improving public safety.

Taylor reminds residents that no-excuse absentee balloting is available at her office through Monday--the day before the election. Polls are open Tuesday in Atchison County and elsewhere from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.