With all 14 precincts reporting, East Lansing voters approved more than $66 million in improvements to the city’s high school and MacDonald Middle School on Tuesday.

“It’s a crystal clear message that our students will have a bright future,” Superintendent Thomas Giblin said.

A $47.2 million plan to add computers, chemistry labs and other improvements to the high school was ahead by 692 votes at 11 p.m., said Kevin Green, assistant to the superintendent. Voters approved the measure 3,079 in favor and 2,130 opposed at press time.

Voters also supported a $13.8 million plan to renovate MacDonald Middle School, which passed 3,113 in favor to 2,087 against.

School officials have compared the middle school to a house in need of remodeling.

In the closest of the three proposals, voters supported a proposal to add a $4.9 million swimming pool at the high school 2,671 to 2,505.

Officials shut down the existing high school pool because it does not meet state code.

With the passing of the proposals, East Lansing residents, including students who live in the city, will have to pay more in taxes. A house valued at $100,000 will have to pay an extra $155 annually if all three proposals pass.

Landlords will be hit with the tax hikes, and those taxes are expected to be passed on to student renters. Students were eligible to vote in the election as long as they lived within the East Lansing School District limits and were registered to vote in East Lansing.

FROM STAFF REPORTS