Cedar Falls residents have cast their ballots on a $118 million dollar school bond referendum. They went to the polling sites in record numbers.

Voters rejected two ballot measures overwhelmingly on Tuesday (September 9, 2014).

The first -- Public Measure A -- asked voters to authorize the Cedar Falls Community School District to issue bonds not to exceed $118 million to build and equip a new high school and elementary school, as well as make improvements to both North Cedar and Orchard Hill elementary schools.

Fifty-eight percent of the voters said "no" to Public Measure A, while 42-percent said "yes". The measure required 60-percent approval to pass.

The second measure -- Public Measure B -- asked voters to authorize the school board to levy a property tax not to exceed $4.05 per $1,000 of taxable property in order to help pay the bond outlined in Public Measure A.

It, too, was soundly rejected, with 59-percent voting "no" to Public Measure B and 41-percent "yes". Sixty-percent voter approval was also needed for passage.

Absentee ballots reflected a different outcome for both measures. Those results show 54-percent of the 1,101 early votes cast favored Public Measure A, while 53-percent of the 1,008 absentee votes said "yes" to Public Measure B.

The votes are unofficial until the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors canvass the ballots.

According to Black Hawk County Election Manager Kyle Jansson, the special election was historic for the high number of voters. Jansson called the 34-percent turnout "unprecedented" for a school-related election in the county.

"The voters really participated in this election," Jansson said.

Rejection of Tuesday's measures likely means that district officials will develop a new plan to improve and expand school facilities.

According to figures released by Cedar Falls school officials, enrollment numbers are on the rise and the district is expecting a 900-student increase across all grade levels over the next 10 years.

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