DALLAS -- Voters in Indiana and Michigan responded favorably to requests for hundreds of millions of dollars in requests for bond borrowing authority.
Voters in Indiana and Michigan approved $894 million and rejected $343 million in school district borrowing requests on Tuesday.
In Indiana, $172 million in borrowing requests from two school districts were approved. Michigan voters offered a mixed bag of results with voters approving $722.6 million of bonds and rejecting $343.4 million.
Voters in Indiana approved a $129.9 million bond for the Fort Wayne Community Schools in Allen County. The district wants to increase property taxes by $0.149 per $100 of assessed valuation. More than 72 % of voters cast a yes vote.
Proceeds will finance restoration and renovation work at 42 schools in the second phase of a capital program. Phase I of the repair plan - totaling $117 million - was approved by voters in 2012 by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.
Voters in New Prairie United School Corporation in La Porte and St. Joseph Counties also voted yes on a $42 million bond referendum that would fund renovations. The district's request received 2,500 votes in support, and 2,220 votes against it. Most of the funds would pay for renovations at New Prairie High School.
In Michigan, Warren Consolidated School District in Macomb County voters approved $134.5 million in bonds to update district schools, playgrounds and athletic fields. Some of the funds would be used to purchase school buses. The proposal passed with a margin of 5,257 to 4,179.
Neighboring Romeo Community Schools, also in Macomb County, had $86 million in borrowing approved to update schools. The bond proposal in Romeo passed with 62 % of the vote.
Voters approved a $120 million bond for Lansing Public School District in Ingham County. Bond proceeds will go towards building renovations and technology upgrades at dozens of schools. It will also fund the Pathway Promise, a curriculum plan that will allow student to select from three education tracks starting in elementary school.
In Saint Claire County, the Port Huron School district lost its bid for $125.8 million in borrowing authority to finance construction of new schools as well as update existing structures. The district's request received 4,394 votes in support and 4,887 votes against.
Voters in East China School District, also in Saint Claire County, rejected a $49.3 million referendum. The bond, had it been approved, would have been used to update technology in the district's schools.
Voters denied the request of Mason Public Schools in Ingham County for a $79 million bond authorization.
Crestwood School District in Wayne County gained voter approval for $35 million of bonds the district will use fund school buildings, athletic fields and playground upgrades. The district's request received 1,629 votes in support, and 1,542 votes against.
The four main features of the measure are upgrades to buildings, safety and security, instructional areas and technology throughout the schools in the district.
Voter's rejected a $10.65 million bond proposal for Grosse Ile Township Schools, also in Wayne County, by a vote of 1,562 to 1,604. The bond would have funded remodeling existing school district buildings and classrooms, including classroom, safety, climate control system, and energy conservation improvements.
