WHITEFISH BAY - A handful of districts claim to desperately need more money, even in this challenging economy. Voters decide on at least four school referendums in southeast Wisconsin Tuesday.

Whitefish Bay school leaders say the Richards Elementary lunchroom is overcrowded and that the high school's music rehearsal rooms are embarrassing. There are problems with leaky roofs, aging pipes and inadequate security.

High School Principal Bill Henkle insists his 75-year-old school district urgently needs upgrades.

"We give lots of tours and we really steer clear, these are not spaces we have a tremendous amount of pride in," Henkle said, as he showed TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray the band classroom. "Nobody was banking on the economy going terribly bad."

Even with tight budgets, some families are willing to sacrifice for their children.

"I realize how important it is to have the schools maintained," said parent Julie Topetzes. "I think that's the reason a lot of people move here."

Others wish the improvements could wait.

"It's a hard time to ask the residents to pay a higher tax," said Kim Antonelli, who voted against Whitefish Bay's referendum. "We have a high tax rate as it is."

The Pewaukee, Cedar Grove-Belgium and Trevor-Wilmot districts are each asking residents to approve multi-million dollar measures.

"The taxpayer is stretched awfully thin," said Curis Gielow, a Concordia University dean and former state legislator. "This is a gutsy time for school districts to go out on a referendum."

In Whitefish Bay, the average homeowner's tax bill would increase about $250 if the "yes" votes win.