Voters in the El Reno School District approved $45.3 million in bond issues to build a new math and science wing onto the high school and a brand new elementary school during Tuesday's election.
The bonds will increase property taxes in the school district by roughly 6.5 percent. Voters had defeated a similar bond issue just over a year ago.
“Anytime you're talking about a tax increase, it's going to be tough,” said the new El Reno schools Superintendent Craig McVay. “It's especially tough for our fixed-income individuals who are property owners. A lot of them don't have children in school and even grandchildren in school … to get this kind of support I think is just a testimony to the people who worked so hard.”
Voters in Luther defeated a 1 percent sales tax that would have gone to capital improvement projects in the small town.
Results were similar to an attempt in June to pass a sales tax increase with 104 people voting against the sales tax and 49 voting in favor.
New school
Oklahoma school bond proposals require a 60 percent majority to be approved.
About 73 percent of voters approved the bond issues in El Reno on Tuesday.
“It's a matter of trust,” McVay said, giving credit to the former school Superintendent Ranet Tippens and the education board.
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