Residents voted almost 2-1 against a $20 million school bond proposal in Tuesday’s special election.
About 8,700 voters cast ballots: 2,945 in favor of the bond, 5,755 against, according to unofficial results posted by the county clerk.
Early turnout was slow in Independence Township but picked up quickly, said township Clerk Barb Pallotta.
‘Between 1 and 1:30, precincts 3, 7, and 1 started to pick up,? Pallotta said at about 4 p.m. ‘Since then, it’s been crazy. I think we’ll break at least 25 percent turnout. It’s been a great day!?
Turnout in Independence Township was 27.1 percent, with 6,581 casting ballots out of 24,263 registered voters.
In Springfield Township, 1,722 out of 6,600 registered school district voters cast ballots, 26 percent. In the City of the Village of Clarkston, 280 voted out of 846 registered, 33 percent.
‘We’ve been busy,? said Kelley Richter, Clarkston city clerk. ‘It’s been steady for the city.?
Overall district turnout was 26.8 percent.
Voter turnout was 8.89 percent in the May 2009 school board election. In May 2007, school election turnout was 6.76 percent.
Clarkston Community Schools asked voters to approve a one-mill property tax increase for a $20 million non-qualified bond, half for wireless Internet, tablet computers for students and teachers, and other technology, and the rest for parking lot, utilities, building improvements, and other capital projects.
The May 8 election cost the school district $35,000.
? Phil Custodio