MADISON, Wis. -- A referendum on Madison's Nov. 4 ballot asks voters to approve $13 million for the city's school district with a three-year series of tax increases.

Some Madison high school students were out early Saturday morning on the Capitol Square, trying to drum up support for the referendum. The students passed out information and talked to voters trying to encourage them to approve the referendum, WISC-TV reported.

Organizers said they hope their efforts can help to clear up misconceptions about the referendum.

Sarah Maslin, a junior from Madison West High, said, "We're not asking for anything new. A lot of people have this misconception that we're asking for a lot more money to be able to have more programs, to advance technology, build new schools. That's not what we're asking. The money we're asking for is to just to keep what we have now, which is a bare minimum."

Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Daniel Nerad said that the students for their proactive approach to civic engagement.

Voter approval of the referendum would mean taxes on a $250,000 home would increase about one percent, which is roughly $30 for 2009-2010.

Taxes on that home would rise similarly the following two years as well, WISC-TV reported.