The millage increase was approved 71,009 votes to 39,421, in final unofficial numbers from the Ingham County clerk’s office Wednesday morning.

If the millage failed, weekday evening services and Saturday and Sunday services would likely have to be cut.

John Pollard, treasurer of Citizens Against This Bond, an organization that opposed the CATA millage, said raising property taxes will just lead to more unemployment and a more unstable housing market.

“The one thing I have learned from history is, for whatever reason, if you raise taxes, it’s the surefire way to turn a recession into a depression,” Pollard said.

In addition to the CATA millage, voters addressed two proposals on the East Lansing ballot, regarding the ability of the city to sell the city-owned parking garage and land beneath the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave.

East Lansing voters also approved the sale of the parking garage 56.99 percent to 43.01 percent and the sale of city land 59.74 to 40.26 percent.

Passing these proposals would not require the city to sell the land, the city has a charter that requires the city to seek voter approval before selling city-owned land withs a market value of more than $4 per East Lansing resident, or almost $200,000. The land is pegged at a market value of slightly more than $1 million.