Voters in Fort Wayne Community Schools and Southwest Allen County Schools approved district referendums in higher numbers than previous elections.
FWCS voters approved Repair FWCS Phase 2, a $130 million building project, by 72.2 percent of the vote, higher than the two-thirds approval that came in 2012 for the Phase 1 $119 million building project.
The work approved by voters Tuesday will include major work on 10 buildings and add air conditioning to 16 buildings.
“We’re thrilled that the community came out and supported this to such a great degree,” FWCS spokeswoman Krista Stockman said. “With Phase 1, we showed the voters what we wanted to do with the project, that we would be fiscally responsible and that we would put the money directly into the buildings. We came in under budget, and I think that’s what people saw.”
The 2012 building project, which ultimately came in under budget by about $2.2 million, also created local jobs, something the district intends to continue, Stockman said. The new project will keep taxes flat, FWCS officials said.
At Southwest Allen, voters renewed a $3.5 million staffing referendum with 75.4 percent of the vote, higher than the 71 percent approval in 2009.