Ely voters approve prop. tax increase to pay for school heating systems

Voters in Ely have approved a property tax increase to pay for a new $3 million heating system for the town's schools.

Yesterday's proposal won nearly 70 percent approval of the 1,300 votes cast.

That's a reversal from a request that voters rejected last fall. That proposal would have cost more money and included additional fixes for Ely's school buildings.

District officials said they had hoped to win voter approval this time by only focusing on their largest facility need; the current heating system is more than 90 years old.

Approval means property taxes will increase about $66 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home or seasonal recreational property.

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