Cedar Falls, Janesville Voters Decide School Issues

Voters passed a multi-million dollar school bond issue in Cedar Falls and narrowly defeated a smaller referendum to finance facility needs in Janesville on Tuesday (April 5, 2016).

Unofficial results show the $32.5 million measure in Cedar Falls received 4,910 "Yes" votes and 2,993 "No" votes. Sixty-percent voter approval was required for the measure to pass. The margin of victory was 62.1-percent-to-37.9-percent.

Money generated with from the referendum will finance construction of a seventh elementary school in southwest Cedar Falls and pay for planned improvements and additions at North Cedar and Orchard Hill elementaries.

Other Northeast Iowa Special Election Results

In the past year, voters twice rejected similar measures to finance the proposed construction projects in Cedar falls.

In Janesville, a $5.4 million bond issue to finance facility improvements failed by just 14 votes. Unofficial results show 487 people favored the measure, while 348 voted against it. The referendum received 58.2-percent support, but a 60-percent super majority -- or 501 "Yes" votes -- was needed.

Passage of the school bond issue would have financed construction of a new gymnasium and additional classroom space for elementary and early childhood education.