By Wendy Gragg

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Midway school officials say they would like to have seen more people vote Saturday but are glad that the majority of those who did backed the $75.8 million bond issue.

The votes came in at 1,516 for the bond issue and 1,208 against. Midway Independent School District Superintendent Brad Lancaster said there were 500 fewer people voting in this election than in a bond election nine years ago.

“Obviously, we’re thrilled, but you always wish you had higher voter turnout,” Lancaster said. “Be that as it may, we’ll take that split and assume it reflects the view of the community and move forward with these projects.”

The bonds will fund a new elementary school and an intermediate school to accommodate the growing number of students in the district. Also included in the package are a new bus facility, administration building, stadium expansion and renovations at schools across the district.

Mark and Angie Moore turned out Saturday to support the bond issue, which they see as having a broad impact on the area.

“These bond issues will be good for the school district and should help to stimulate the local economy. This is part of the natural growth of this community and this school district,” Mark Moore said.

Several people questioned after voting Saturday said they voted against the bond, citing too-high taxes or registering complaints about spending the money on athletics and administration.

The Midway school district tax rate will increase by 3 cents to a total of $1.32 per $100 valuation.

Gary Faunce, MISD assistant superintendent for finance, said the school district would go to market with the bonds around July 15.

Lancaster said the district could break ground on the elementary school — the first priority — soon after the bonds were sold. Representatives from Huckabee architectural firm have said that all of Midway’s bond projects could be finished within two years, by the summer of 2010.

Lancaster said he and the board of trustees were surprised that the projects could be accomplished in that time, but were pleased.

“If we get it done quicker, we have a lower construction cost,” Lancaster said.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

757-6901

For full details on the bond projects, including price tags, go to midway.huckabee-inc.com.