Bellevue school bond wins easily; two others in county fall short

Three King County school-construction bond measures won a majority of "yes" votes in Tuesday's special election, but two didn't reach the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass, according to updated returns posted Wednesday.

The largest, Bellevue School District's $545 million bond to pay for capital improvements to Bellevue and Sammamish high schools, three or four middle schools and three elementary schools, was passing easily and had more than 60 percent support.

But in the Snoqualmie Valley School District, which was trying for a third time to pass a school-construction bond to reduce overcrowding, the minimum voter turnout requirements were met, but the measure was still shy of the 60 percent approval required.

The Renton School District was struggling to get 60 percent approval of its $150 million construction bond, which would pay for capital improvements to schools, sports fields and play areas.

Two Renton district levies, which require only a simple majority, were passing with safe margins.

In the Snohomish School District, voters were passing a $261 million bond measure aimed at renovating or rebuilding several schools and an aquatic center, and making technology upgrades, but the approval was by less than the required 60 percent supermajority.

Voters in the Auburn School District were passing a $113 million replacement program and operations levy, which provides about 18 percent of the district's budget.

Mercer Island voters were supporting a $9.9 million, four-year levy to pay for capital projects and technology upgrades at the district's schools.