BLAINE - A $3 million bond for the Blaine School District has passed, thanks to a late boost in yes votes.

About 62 percent of voters were voting yes for the Blaine bond, according to unofficial ballot results released Thursday, Feb. 16.

That was up from 60.75 percent on Wednesday, and 60.3 percent on Tuesday - when the first ballot results were released.

The bond needed 40 percent voter turnout from the last general election and 60 percent approval to pass.

"It looks pretty certain. We're really excited. It's great," said Ron Spanjer, superintendent for the Blaine School District.

The money will be used to pay for repairs and improvements, with the biggest chunk going to remodel the old Blaine High School science building.

It was the third time a bond request had gone before district voters in recent years.

The bond measure is significantly less than the $32 million bond request that voters narrowly turned down in April, and the $40 million one they said no to in 2008.

"We've worked on this essentially for four years to try to get this high school project off the ground and under way," Spanjer said, adding that voters didn't question whether the high school project needed to be done, only the previous bond amounts and the timing.

"We understand the economy has been very challenging for folks," he said.

Results of this election will be certified Feb. 28.

All seven school districts in Whatcom County also placed levy funding requests before voters. Those passed easily.