BY MIKE WARREN

MARSHFIELD — By just 71 votes, the city of Marshfield’s ask for more money for public safety has been rejected.

According to unofficial results, voters in the city of Marshfield said “no” to increasing property taxes to support hiring and retaining nine full-time firefighters/paramedics, one full-time police officer, one full-time Police Department records specialist, and one full-time administrative assistant that was to be split between the Police and Fire departments.

Voters narrowly rejected the public safety referendum, 3,038-2,967. The referendum would have increased the city’s tax levy by 7.124 percent, adding $1,130,000 to the annual budget going forward.

Meanwhile, a referendum that would not have incurred any additional taxes also went down to defeat.

Voters in the School District of Marshfield are rejecting a $99.5 million proposal which would have provided for new and renovated facilities, the lion’s share at Marshfield High School.

The unofficial vote was 5,425-3,950.

“We appreciate the feedback we received from voters on the proposed facility improvement projects,” said Marshfield School District Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson following the vote. “Though the April 4 facility referendum was not approved by voters, we remain positive about the future as we look ahead to getting back to work on how best to address the facility challenges that remain in the school district.”

Within the $99.5 million, about $85 million of that targeted improvements and additions at MHS. The rest would have gone into Marshfield Middle School and the district’s five elementary schools.

Those same voters are placing a new member on the Marshfield School Board.

Tara Tremelling was the top vote-getter among four candidates running for two spots on the board. Tremelling – a 2003 graduate of Marshfield High School – displaces incumbent board member Dan Neve, who finished fourth among the four board hopefuls.

Unofficially, Tremelling received 4,509 votes, to grab a three-year term on the board.

By just 13 votes, incumbent Mark Konrardy has won his fifth term on the board. Konrardy picked up 4,321 votes. Finishing a close third was challenger Nicole Forst, with 4,308 votes. Neve received 3,760 votes and will be coming off the board after one term.

In the closest race of any kind in years, Marshfield voters have elected a new member of the Common Council.

Andrew Reigel has unofficially won the District 10 council seat being given up by incumbent Peter Hendler.

Vote totals indicate Reigel defeated Bonnie Andres 257-255.